A4e Pathways helping Guildford People get back to work

Getting back to work after being unemployed for a long time,

requires confidence in oneself that is difficult to find.  A4e Pathways to Work is a scheme to help

those who have been on sickness and disability-related benefits build their

skills and confidence, manage their condition and ultimately find the job that

suits them.  A4e Pathways has an office

based in Woodbridge Road

in Guildford – and help people who hear about

them through the recommendation of friends and family, see their leaflets

promoting their work, from referrals at Jobcentre Plus and now also from

reading about them on Guildford People.  A4e

support those who come to them for help with training or re training, personal

mentoring, coaching and in work support. 

You can contact their office on 01483 302045 for more information. for

more information.

One Guildford resident that

A4e has helped in getting back into employment is Daniel Eames.  Daniel had been unemployed for eight years due

to mental health issues following bereavement in the family and found his way

to A4e Pathways after a referral from the Shaw Trust.  Daniel had previously worked in the customer

service and retail industry and wanted to get back into the industry he knew,

but was frustrated that he was not able to move on or get the support and

guidance he needed to find a job.  Daniel

met with an A4e Employment Advisor and together they worked out a plan to find

a job in the local retail trade.  TK Maxx

were happy to offer Daniel a two week placement, in which he excelled so much

so TK Maxx were happy to offer him a full time permanent position on completion

of his trial period.  Daniel says “I

would not have got this job if I hadn’t been at A4e.  It is great to work with the whole team.  Everyone at A4e has been helpful and my life

has been turned around.”

The Pathways to Work Government Scheme started in October

2008 and is a programme run by Jobcentre Plus to help those on Employment and

Support Allowance or incapacity benefits to get work.   A4e is one of its partner

organisations.  A4e (Action for

Employment) and was set up over 20 years ago in South Yorkshire to help re-train

redundant Sheffield steelworkers for other jobs as the steel industry began to

decline.  The company was started by Emma

Harrison (aficionados of Channel 4’s The Secret Millionaire may remember the

episode in which Emma Harrison appeared in) and Mark Lovell. The business has

grown on a global scale (and is now in 11 countries worldwide) but prides

itself that the company “still wants to bring about social change.  To help the disadvantaged.  And put equal opportunities into practice in

a way that others only pay lip service to.” 

Images provided by A4e