Grenfell Recovery Strategy

Community Works

The Grenfell Recovery Strategy included a commitment to support the employment and skills ambitions of residents, outlined by two key action points:

• work with the community to agree area of focus for the project, taking into account consultation to date, the targeted Grenfell focus, and the needs of residents
• design and deliver a community-based commissioning project in this area

To help meet this commitment, the Community Works project was developed. This project focused on working with residents, in workshops and small groups over several sessions, and with local partners to identify what support is needed and to develop ideas into potential projects to meet those needs.

Residents told us what was needed in their own words:

1. Work opportunities that fit around school hours
2. How to convert volunteering into paid work
3. Young people need extra support
4. A person-centred offer that reflects my experiences and needs, especially when I am vulnerable
5. Pre-employment support to rebuild confidence and motivation especially for those recovering from difficult life situations
6. People who have had to leave or lost jobs because of Grenfell can receive relevant support that meets their unique needs, acknowledging their skills and barriers they face
7. Support to start and run a business

A list of potential projects were developed which address these needs, and following feedback from residents through the Grenfell Community Assembly and direct contact, two priority projects have been selected to proceed with the £250,000 funding available. We worked with the community to agree the details of the projects and how the money will be spent to action them. Following these discussions and an open tendering process, the council has now commissioned four local providers to carry out the employment support programmes under the two newly launched projects. These projects were open to residents affected and impacted by the Grenfell tragedy.

The projects were completed in March 2024 see below for details. If you have any questions, or would like further information about Community Works, you can get in touch with our Employment and Skills Team at [email protected] .

What projects were commissioned?

Into Work – Employment advisers working in the community

The St Giles Trust delivered personalised personalised employment advice through dedicated advisers offering residents guidance and direct support into training or jobs.  The project objectives included:

• work with 180 North Kensington residents
• provide detailed individual support (6-10 hours) for 150 North Kensington residents
• assist 70 North Kensington residents into employment, and a minimum of 50 sustained for 6 months 

Build Yourself Up’ – A confidence building programme

When discussing what issues Community Works needed to address, workshop attendees identified a key need to help residents with their confidence and motivation to prepare for and get ready for work. Confidence and motivation are very important in taking the steps to move into, or back into, the workforce.

The ‘Build Yourself Up’ addressed this through confidence building workshops, linked with activities that engage and build upon residents’ skills and interest.

Three local providers have delivered discrete programmes as part of the Build Yourself Up offer. These targeted, confidence-building programmes for 25 North Kensington residents per course.  

Clement James – Women’s Confidence Programme

The programme provided focused support for women over 6 weeks and included weekly three-hour workshops at the ClementJames Centre W11. The sessions explored the themes of communication, listening, confidence, self-compassion and boundaries. The programme assisted women who may be isolated and lack support networks.

Nova New Opportunities – Connecting With Confidence

This provided weekly sessions lasting 2 hours over 5 weeks at Nova’s office at Thorpe Close W10, Al Hasaniya W10 or, if necessary, on Zoom.  This programme had three main features: 

• Confidence Building Workshops: these include topics such as ‘Speaking Up With Clarity’, meeting new people, feeling better about yourself and raising self esteem.  As part of this, participants created personal action plans to meet their confidence goals. This was open to residents of all ages and abilities.
• Activities: Tutors help participants run their own small projects, building on existing skills and expertise.
• One-to-One Mentoring: The personal mentoring sessions enabled participants to address the barriers to engaging in mainstream employment building trust and confidence.

Connecting with Confidence was oprn to all residents of ll ages or abilities.

ConnecMe2

A series of workshops over 8 weeks for Young North Kensington residents of working age 16 to 24. to help prepre for work and future careers. 

What we have achieved

Impact

Overall, the projects have supported residents and achieved the outcomes below:

Outputs and outcomes	Objective	Achieved
Residents engaged by the projects receiving some guidance or support	330	355
Residents engaged and provided with between 6 and 10 hours of support 1:1 Support and action plan	277	283
Residents into jobs	70	89*
Residents sustained in work (beyond six months)	50	39**
Residents accessing further vocational training	68	152

*These are from unemployed into employment, some were also assisted in increase hours: there are 14 more in this category
** Including 12 sustained work outcomes carried over till 24/25 to be claimed by September 2024. 
 

Learning

Within the context of employment support, Community Works providers reported a variety of related issues giving rise to a range of needs, some anticipated and some not. These needs include: 

•    debt advice
•    confidence building
•    financial help with travel costs
•    counselling
•    CV, application and interview skills training
•    Clothes for interviews
•    help with childcare
•    welfare benefits advice
•    assistance with passport and ID applications

Several lessons have been learned and further insights gleaned from both the development and delivery phase of the projects.

•    The personalised support transpired to be much more holistic and wider ranging than a narrow view of employment activity.  The residents may arrive at the support seeking to earn money and find a job, however, there are many challenges and issues to the circumstances of each person being supported.  

•    Advisers were often supporting the individuals with their plans, motivation, managing personal issues, securing support or funding to attend vocational training, preparation for interviews and coaching for such, and follow-on support once into work.  

•    In some cases, the engagement has led to supporting other family members, or liaising with parent/carers.  The individuals being supported also have many other touch points with statutory agencies including other parts of the council (Housing, Social services), DWP, health services and the criminal justice system.

•    Linking the providers with complementary local activity such as the Lancaster West Neighbourhood Team proved positive and beneficial. 

•    Participation data shows a majority (just over half) of the participants report a health condition. 

•    The projects worked with a wide range of ages, the average age on the women’s confidence building programme was 50 and on the young job-seekers programme it was 20. 

•    All providers reported that participants had more complex needs than expected, with many adversely affected by the pandemic and cost of living crisis. Addressing their needs has required significant wraparound support. 

•    Satisfaction data for the Confidence Building programmes has been overwhelmingly positive.