An organisation which helps unemployed people and workers on low hours or low pay in Pembrokeshire to gain skills and find work has been working hard to adapt its support for customers during Covid-19.

Even before lockdown came into effect, staff at Futureworks in Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven, Haverfordwest and Cardigan started developing a range of digital material and resources, quickly adapting to new ways of working and online contact with customers through Skype, Teams and Zoom!

“We created a range of sector related modules that get people introduced to and thinking about different fields of work,” said Alison Moore, Participant Engagement and Support Officer for the Communities for Work+ project.

“Both tutors and employment mentors can access these for the benefit of their customers and we provide personal accounts for people to be able to do this.”

Over twenty modules have been created so far, including construction, engineering, horticulture, hospitality and adult care. The content is available through the online platform Spongy Elephant.

Customers have also benefited from free access to a variety of online training courses and qualifications, with 100+ courses completed so far. This includes a ‘Care Training’ package as an introduction to working in the sector.

At the beginning of June, the Futureworks team took part in the successful live streaming event for the ‘Virtual Open Week’ for Pembrokeshire’s Year 11 School leavers.

Futureworks has also been buoyed by the shortlisting of one of their mentors, Charlotte Edwards, for the ‘Frontline Adviser of the Year Award’ at the ERSA Employability Awards on July 22.

Futureworks supports people aged 16+ who are unemployed or on low hours or low pay by helping them gain qualifications and new skills, undertake work placements and find work. They also receive mentoring to develop confidence, further learning and employability skills.

Welsh-Government funded programmes are supported by the European Social Fund.