Member Article

Derby rivals on same team to help the jobless

Who knows who will win the Wear Tyne derby on Sunday, but social landlord Isos Housing is taking no chances - signing up both clubs to help its work with unemployed people in the North East.

Isos has become the first organisation in the region to work with both Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light and the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF), to help young people on Wearside and Tyneside into work.

The partnerships with the two clubs mean Isos, like all the best football teams, is creating lots of chances for its residents to ‘hit the back of the net’ by finding work.

Isos has a ‘2020 Vision’ focused on becoming the north’s leading housing company by the end of the decade, hence the numbers on the two club shirts. The landlord believes supporting initiatives like those run by the Foundation of Light and the Newcastle United Foundation, is a crucial part of delivering that vision.

Earlier this year, Isos started working with the Foundation of Light on its renowned ‘Back in the Game’ programme, which provides training for unemployed people, alongside mentoring and football-related fitness work, to get them in the best possible shape to find the job they want.

The programme was targeted at Isos communities in South Tyneside, and of those who took part in the first Back in the Game programme, four have found work, three have gained new qualifications, and other ‘graduates’ from the programme have moved on to extra training or further education.

The Foundation of Light’s pioneering programme, launched in 2009, has been a huge success in the region with 44% of all participants going on to find work, and over 350 gaining qualifications including the nationally recognised Workskills Level 1. Numeracy and Literacy qualifications are also delivered on the programme.

Now Isos has partnered with the Newcastle United Foundation (NUF), so more jobseekers can benefit from new skills and mentoring.

Newcastle’s programme targets unemployment in Felling and North Shields – both areas which are being targeted for help in the Isos Community Investment Strategy.

NUFC’s 10 week course looks at developing CV’s, mock interviews, job search strategies, nutrition, mental health workshops, team sports and offers continued support form the foundation mentors after the course has finished.

Key accredited courses during the programme will look to deliver Level 2 business start up, level 1 sports leaders qualification and emergency first aid. Both the courses at the clubs include a two week work placement.

Richie Mitchell, community investment manager for Isos Housing, said: “We want to do all we can to help people find work in the communities where we work. In the North East, having the chance to get training at one of the two big football clubs is a great motivator for people – and we know the clubs’ foundations can really deliver results.”

The work Isos is funding through the Foundation of Light and the Newcastle United Foundation forms part of the social landlord’s Community Investment Strategy which is investing £1m over three years to tackle issues like worklessness, fuel poverty and health inequality.

Matt Hill, Head of Lifelong Learning from the Foundation of Light said: “We’re very proud to be able to team up with Isos Housing. We have more than a decade’s experience working in partnership with local businesses to achieve what is best for our local community and are sure that this partnership will be a huge success.”

Sam McLoughlin, project manager for community development at the Newcastle United Foundation, said: “We are delighted to launch this partnership with Isos Housing and look forward to working with their tenants to promote active and healthy lifestyles, inspire them to reach their potential and ultimately build safe, strong communities”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Isos Housing Group .