‘Work scheme helped to transform my life’

A WORK-experience scheme with a difference is going from strength to strength in Oldham.

The Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) programme, a partnership between Guinness Northern Counties and Groundwork Trust, has helped six adults with challenging backgrounds to gain valuable skills in the workplace.

Another eight more people are due to start on the scheme this month.

The programme has been praised by all involved, particularly Joanne Fraser who is one of its early success stories.

Joanne (31), from Shaw, completed her four-month work placement in August but has now successfully secured a temporary paid post with the association’s Housing Support Services team.

The former addict turned her back on drugs six years ago following the birth of her daughter Alyssia.

Now, with the help of Guinness Northern Counties and the Groundwork Trust, she is dramatically turning her life around.

She said: “I have come from an erratic past and unfortunately suffered an addiction to Class-A drugs which took over my life for several long years but my wake-up call came in the form of my beautiful daughter.

“She makes me stronger as a person each and every day.”

Determined to make a fresh start, Joanne signed up for a drug-reduction programme until she became clean of drug use, then studied to gain counselling and IT qualifications to help to make herself become more employable.

In May this year, she found an Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) placement at Guinness Northern Counties to help her gain that all-important work experience.

Since then, Joanne has been working at the association’s Corporate Centre in Hollinwood and has never been happier.

She said: “I see this as my final stepping stone to being accepted in society and I am really grateful for the training, help and support I’ve had here.

“It’s a fantastic place to work and the people have been so welcoming. I really hope the temporary post I’ve just secured works out because I really don’t want to leave.”

Christos Tsaprounis, the association’s recruitment specialist said: “We are reaching out for available talent as a result of the credit crunch and trying to really make a difference by joining forces with organisations promoting local employment opportunities. So far we have assisted people with a range of problems from previous drug misuse to dyslexia and cerebral palsy.

“The results are inspirational for both our work force and for the local community to the point where we have now rolled the scheme out to offices in Sheffield and Teesside.’’