Select a region
As part of their commitment to support the wider Jersey community, Barclays will be investing in employability projects with Jersey charities Brighter Futures and Music in Action in 2017.
Brighter Futures work with families from different backgrounds, experiences, and financial situations who are experiencing difficulties or challenges in their lives.
Barclays’ funding will allow Brighter Futures to employ an experienced coordinator to lead a Parent Champion Programme for 12 months. The programme will enable parents to gain life skills and employability skills to be able to access and succeed in the workplace.
Community engagement officer at Brighter Futures, Jo Posen, said: “This project is focused on getting service users back into work, ideally by opening up opportunities in new sectors or more ambitious roles as a result of their newly developed skills and confidence.
“Towards the end of the programme, participants will be provided with additional support to start looking for suitable roles, working on their CV’s and practicing their interview techniques.
“Without Barclays’ funding this programme would not be possible and we would like to thank Barclays for their support.”
As part of the programme, volunteers from Barclays will also deliver LifeSkills training. This will focus on building confidence, resilience, communication skills, and work skills (including CV, interview and job seeking skills).
In 2016 Barclays supported Music in Action’s first Outreach programme and, due to the success of this initiative and the positive impact it had on the participants involved, they will be supporting the programme again in 2017.
The programme is aimed at senior secondary school pupils, people who are seeking work and participants from charities such as STEPS, Mencap and the Prince’s Trust. It provides real-life planning and development skills in the areas of administration, creative arts, graphic design, communications, marketing, social media and event organisation for more than 60 interns by involving them in two projects the 10 day Liberation International Music Festival and six month schools outreach project, Jersey Sings.
Thanks to Barclays’ funding, Music in Action will be able to employ an Outreach manager who will oversee the project and engage with those currently looking for work.
Chairman at Music in Action, James Mews, said: “Our aim is to upskill all participants to gain future employment or secure placements to develop educational or vocational qualifications and skills.
“We are grateful to receive Barclays’ funding and will be encouraging all participants to take part in Barclays Digital Wings to improve their IT skills, which are vital for today’s working world.”
In 2016 Music in Action ran the project alongside their organisation of ‘Jersey Sings’ which saw over 1200 school children perform. This event has grown with 1,400 participants involved in 2017 and will once again enable Outreach participants to gain experience in all aspects of event management.
Chair of Barclays’ community investment team in Jersey, Adele Langlois, said: “Both Brighter Futures and Music in Action share Barclays’ mission to help people develop the vital skills they need to get into work.
“By supporting their programmes we hope to offer local people the chance to develop the key life skills they require to seek employment.”
Managing Director at Barclays in Jersey, Paul Savery, said: “Barclays are pleased to be able to support such worthy causes which operate in the island. These projects align with Barclays’ shared growth ambition and see us continuing to support employment in the island.
“Barclays believe that everyone should have access to equal opportunities and we are committed to helping the local community prosper.”
