Lone parents in Holbeck and Beeston are being helped back to work by the Access to Employment Programme ‘New Opportunity Experience’, which supports parents who have been on benefits, to build up new skills, receive training, attend interviews and settle in to a new working life.

The newly refurbished Hillside Enterprise Centre funded by Sharing the Success and based on Beeston Road has given the New Opportunity team a perfect venue for holding regular one-to-one meetings, job search sessions, and group activities. Bright, airy and un-intimidating, the refurbished Victorian building is a good place for inspiring people.

The catalyst centre is there to provide enterprise advice and affordable pay-as-you-go work space for local people. According to Debbie Banks, Project Co-ordinator, “Getting people to take the first step is the biggest challenge and Hillside Enterprise Centre helps with that, because it’s already well known and is really friendly and welcoming. Being able to use one familiar place to hold all of our Beeston meetings and group sessions will make it easier for our team, and better for the clients.”

The New Opportunity Experience is run by the charity Learning Partnerships, which has 16 years experience working in schools, skills and learning. Their experience working in primary schools to help improve children’s aspirations from an early age, has led them to conclude that the key to influencing children’s attitudes, lies in changing adult behaviour. Growing up with their parents in work rather than on benefits, forms a habit for children that will shape their attitudes to employment in later life.

According to Debbie, “The main barriers to employment for the parents we work with are access to childcare and a perception that they won’t be better off in a job.” The New Opportunity team knows very well the difficulties lone parents face when returning to work and they are on hand to help.

Now that they’re able to offer regular weekly sessions at Hillside Enterprise Centre, the New Opportunity team believes the future for Beeston is already looking up.

For more information about New Opportunity or to attend an event contact Debbie Banks on 0113 380 6662 or visit: www.learningpartnerships.org.uk

For more information about Hillside Catalyst Centre visit: www.hillside-leeds.co.uk

Image (top) by: Tim Smith
Image (bottom) by: Roger Moody