Support for you to find work

Advertorial: Overcoming barriers with new support service.

Case Study: Alan Cairns, 40, Fort William.

Alan has not worked for over a year, and his biggest barriers to work are low confidence and computer skills. Alan started on the Fair Start Scotland service, with Lochaber Hope, in the middle of May 2018, and has currently been attending the service for 12 weeks. In these 12 weeks, Alan has been working on his barriers, and focusing on “interview skills,” “job search” and “completing application form” workshops.

Alan came in for the group digital workshop, and communicated well with the other members. He is now communicating via email with both his work coach at JobCentre Plus, and his Fair Start Scotland Adviser. Within the 12 weeks of attending Fair Start Scotland, not only can Alan now use Microsoft Outlook, but he has completed his new CV on Microsoft Word and has been applying online for employment.

In all the group workshops that Alan attends, he socialises very well with the other participants and is very cheerful. He thinks the service is going very well, and is enjoying it. Alan is very happy with the progress he has made, and has noticed the improvement in his confidence.

Alan seems to be talking so much more, which may have been a barrier stopping him from getting into work. He was pleased to inform his Fair Start Scotland adviser that he got a job working 15 hours a week.

Alan said: “I’ve attended workshops on confidence building, and digital skills at Lochaber Hope. My confidence is improving a lot and so are my computer skills. I have been job searching online and sending emails — I couldn’t do this before. I am enjoying working with my Fair Start Scotland adviser, Cameron.”