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Derwentside residents plan a brighter future

The future’s looking bright for Marrie Taylor after she was given help by Derwentside Homes to get back into work and set up her own catering company.

Marrie from Esh Winning in Durham was left devastated earlier this year when she lost her job as a manager with a local catering company - and shortly afterwards her husband Jim also found himself out of work due to an injury he sustained at work.

The couple, who have worked all their lives, were struggling to make ends meet and were left with huge financial worries about being able to pay their rent to their landlord Derwentside Homes and other outgoing costs.

However, they were given a lifeline when they were referred to Derwentside’s Brighter Futures project which aims to get people back into training and employment.

The scheme helps residents to increase their skills and knowledge by getting them to engage with education, training or voluntary work, whilst looking for paid work. Support is also offered to help people improve their health and wellbeing and increase their confidence and self-esteem.

Through the project, Marrie has now secured a new job at the Greenhouse Restaurant at Lanchester Nurseries. And she has also taken the first steps to setting up her own outside catering company - Tasty Bites Buffets.

Mum-of-three Marrie, 46, said: “I was at such a low when I lost my job in May. In 2013, I gave up the job I had for seven years in order to take on this new role, so to have been laid off after such a short time was devastating. Then for Jim to lose his job with the ambulance service couldn’t have come at a worse time - it was a double whammy.

“We had a visit from a Derwentside housing officer to discuss how they could help us through the short-term difficulties we were experiencing and they suggested we could benefit from Brighter Futures.

“The one-on-one advice we had from the service was fantastic. The advisor went through everything from improving my CV to interview techniques and preparing myself for work. But crucially they were able to help with the job search and they advised me on the availability of the Job at Lanchester.

“They also gave me the confidence to set up the Catering Company and the belief that I could do it. I am taking it slowly at the moment but its great having the reassurance of knowing that I have a Job and can build the business up when I am not working there. We’re running it from home for now and have had a few small jobs but eventually I hope to get my own premises, and continue advertising and really concentrate on securing long term contracts whilst also offering employment opportunities’ for local people.”

Jim has also received help from Brighter Futures and is currently undertaking adult education courses in maths and IT and plans to study English next year. He is currently awaiting an operation on his lower spine and hopes to return to work once he has recovered, but is actively looking and applying for suitable job positions, whilst also trying to keep his fitness levels up.

Meanwhile, Brighter Futures has helped 24-year old Daryl Snaith, from Consett, to secure an 18-month apprenticeship with local firm Williamson Joinery having been out of work since leaving school at 16.

Daryl spent six months working for Derwentside’s SHED project which provides help to local long-term unemployed people to get back into work. SHED (Social Housing Enterprise Durham) provides paid work experience at Derwentside Homes, with participants learning new skills while carrying out repairs, gardening and decorating work to social housing properties.

When his placement finished, Daryl was then given employability support and help with searching for a job through the Brighter Futures project.

Daryl said: “The combination of work experience with SHED and support from Brighter Futures made a real difference to my prospects. It increased my skills and confidence and set me on the path to an apprenticeship. Working in joinery is all I’ve ever wanted to do and every day I am learning the skills and knowledge which will set me up in a career for life.

“I’d like to thank Derwentside for their help in helping me out of long-term unemployment and into paid work.”

Derwentside’s Brighter Future project went live in May 2012 and currently works with more than 350 people offering information, advice and guidance based on customers’ needs to help them on their journey into work by supporting them to increase their skills and knowledge; help them engage in education, training, voluntary work, improve their health and well-being and to increase confidence and self-esteem.

Michelle Graham, Employment Initiatives Officer at Derwentside Homes said: “Marrie and Daryl’s stories are great examples of what Brighter Futures is all about - giving people a little helping hand to get back into work. Brighter Futures combines practical advice and guidance with plenty of encouragement and support. As much as anything it’s about helping people get that sense of purpose and belief back which can often take a knock when you lose your job or are out of work for a long time. We wish both Daryl and Marrie well for the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Craig Downs .