Bootstrap helping residents step by step

A local organisation has helped vulnerable adults within the borough gain employment and further training.

Based in Blackburn, Bootstraps Supported Employment Service offers practical and emotional support to clients with a disability or health condition, and helps them access further training, education, whilst also assisting them in gaining employment.

Between July 1 and November 11 last year, 27 clients were found paid work, including 11 of with Learning Disabilities.

Also, during this period the Supported Employment team supported 22 clients into voluntary work, including 13 with a Learning Disability.

In addition to providing one-to-one support to get work the team provides advice on issues such as debt management and housing needs – issues that can be prevent anyone from focusing on getting a job.

Ross was one resident helped by Bootstrap, who has gone on to gain full time employment at Oliver’s Café.

Ross said that he found Bootstrap’s ‘job club’ really helpful, helping him find a job that suited him.

He has been at Oliver’s café in Darwen for over 10 weeks and really enjoys it.

Ross said that anyone who could be helped by Bootstrap should take the opportunity, as they are great in helping him out whilst job searching and assisted however they could.

Cllr Mohammed Khan, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care said:

This is a great example of 3rd sector organisations working to help residents in gaining extra training, and finding employment and volunteering opportunities.

We continue to support organisations such as Bootstrap in the fantastic work that they do, and encourage those who they may be able to help to get in contact with them.

We talked to Louise, an advisor at Bootstrap who talked about the Supported Employment Service: https://soundcloud.com/theshuttle/bootstrap-advisor-talks-about-the-supported-employment-service