HeadsUp offers support and advice to people in Essex who are unemployed but might be struggling with mental health to get back into work or education.
Our team of Peer Support Workers (who themselves have lived experience of unemployment and common mental health problems) provide 1:1 support and work with participants to identify goals and work towards them at a pace that suits them.
Our wellbeing workshop offers a safe place for participants to learn about their own wellbeing and develop resilience tools to help feel more confident to face challenges that may arise. We also offer practical job seeking skill development in areas such as CV’s, job searching methods and interview techniques.
HeadsUp is a free programme funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund
Why us?
There are many ways to gauge the impact of HeadsUp. Hard impacts can be measured by destination numbers ie: participant progress whilst on the project.
To date (Feb 2021) 663 participants have enrolled onto the HeadsUp programme (158 of these during 2020). Of these 397 indicated they have disabilities or a work-limiting condition such as anxiety or depression(self-assessed) and 190 lacked basic skills (no GCSE Maths and/or English). So far of those who have exited HeadsUp, 62 have moved into education or training, 119 into employment (including self-employment) and 30 into job searching.
The impact of HeadsUp on wellbeing is monitored and evaluated and consistently indicate that participants experience an increase in their feeling of wellbeing and a decrease in their level of anxiety throughout their time participating in HeadsUp.
The greatest evidence of the difference our provision has had is from the learners themselves, here are some excerpts from case studies.
‘His confidence has grown, and he is now able to approach employers and look at different employment opportunities independently. [our participant] is “most proud of successfully completing the Skill Pod updating his CV and now knows how best to use it.”
Case studies
The following is a link is to the relevant page on our website which includes written and filmed participant case studies
Severalls House
2 Boxted Rd
Colchester
Essex
CO4 5HG
Our project is delivered in the community across Essex, Southend and Thurrock.
01206 489912 [email protected] www.enableeast.org.uk/headsup