We did! - Broadland Housing Association

doortodoorMeridian EastBroadland Tenant begins a newlife with the help of Meridian EastFollowing Meridian East’s merge with Broadland Housing a pilotscheme was launched earlier this year to help Broadland tenantsget back into employment.Many tenants started to seek helpfrom Meridian East and for onetenant in particular, enlisting the helpof Meridian East was a life changingexperience.Following the success of the pilotproject, we now hope to help evenmore of you access employment andtraining through our partnerorganisation Meridian East.Sergio’s StorySergio Lapa became a tenant ofBroadland Housing when through nofault of his own, he found himself tobe simultaneously unemployed andhomeless, when he lost his job ofPage 10 • www.broadlandhousing.orgseveral years, which also provided hishousing. He moved into temporaryaccommodation at St James Lodgeand was referred to Meridian East byhis Tenancy Support Worker. He soonmet with friendly, Training andEmployment Consultant, DarrenBroughton to discuss his aspirationsand discover how Meridian East couldhelp him.When Sergio first joined his traininggroup he was very quiet and did notparticipate. Because English was hissecond language, Sergio foundcommunicating and engaging difficult.“Sergio undertook various skillssessions to boost his self-confidenceand started working towards anationally recognised ConstructionSkills Certification Scheme, anessential qualification for his chosenarea of work and he also joinedMeridian East’s job club to get helpwith searching for employment in hislocal area.At this point, Sergio developed a newfound confidence and began to join inmore with group discussions, hiscommunication skills improved andonce his confidence grew his Englishimproved a lot. Sergio began to takethe lead in some group discussionsand was more than happy to voice hisopinion.He completed further qualifications inLiteracy & Numeracy and becamemuch more confident about applyingfor jobs and added more informationto his existing CV which said moreabout him and his personality.The OutcomeFollowing the completion of hisprogramme, Sergio applied for aposition with Norfolk County Councilas a Hygiene Technician and followinghis two week probationary period, hebecame employed on a full time basis.I am very happy with the help and supportI got from the team at Meridian East”Sergio proudly announced to histraining group that he had beenoffered a job and added “I am veryhappy with the help and support I gotfrom the team at Meridian East”.Sergio has since proved himself to bea hard worker and has been offeredmore responsibilities by his employer.Nigel First, Norfolk County Counciladded “Sergio is a very good worker”.Meridian East - Top training and support!Meridian East has beenrecognised as one of the toptraining and support providersin the countryIn a recent Performance Reviewcarried out by the Department forWork and Pensions (DWP), MeridianEast was recognised as the topprovider of the Government’sWorkstep Programme in the EasternRegion and one of the top providersin the country.Work Step is a national programmefunded by the DWP and is designedto help people with disabilities moveinto and sustain, supported andopen employment.Between April 2008 and March 2009Meridian East found jobs for 28people and managed to progresspeople into training and employmentat twice the rate above regional andnational averages.