Contact details Prospects: Mid-Essex Employment Scheme Pound End Mill New Street Braintree   Essex CM7 1ES Tel 01376 324747  Fax 01376 553607 Email pm-prospects@together-uk.org Website www.braintreeprospects.co.uk Project Manager Stacey Lewis Our partners in running this service Essex Social Services Department, European Social Fund, Witham, Braintree and Halstead Primary Care Trust, grant-making trusts, public donations. Referrals accepted from Anyone aged 18-65 years of age. For a decade, Together’s Prospects Service in Braintree has been providing free training, advice and support to local people recovering from mental health problems who are looking to develop their work skills and/or get a job. Who uses the service? At present about 80 local men and women ranging in age from 18 to 65 who have experienced mental distress use the service. It is open to anyone in the area who feels that it would be of use for them to attend (subject to places being available and certain criteria required by our funders being met. Contact us to find out more). What skills are taught? We have the following workshops: woodwork catering horticulture printing an administration and IT section with computers and modern office equipment. In each of these you can learn and practise new skills. How does the service work? When you first come to Prospects, you will work with staff to draw up a plan of what you want to achieve by attending the service. Staff work with members to help them meet their individual ambitions. What level of skills are taught? The service tries to be as flexible as possible about the training it offers, and will try to meet the individual needs of each person who attends. Basic skills are taught in most workshops, and when anyone feels that they are ready to move to a higher level of qualification or more challenging work, then staff will support them to find a suitable college course or work placement. Can I work for qualifications? At present we offer a link with Braintree College, which runs a friday afternoon session at Prospects for members who wish to acheive a range of IT qualifications in our Administration and IT workshop. We hope to be able to offer an NVQ in reception duties and other office admin skills. Some people have worked for their European Computer Driving Licence. In the catering workshop people can work for the Basic Food Hygiene Certificate. What else is on offer? We can support you to sort out any problems you are having in other areas of your life which affect your ability to attend, such as travel difficulties. We will also support you to look for and apply for jobs. If you don’t feel ready for a paid job, we can also help you access a wide range of work-related training, activities and placements in the local community, or support you to look for further training through government schemes or adult education. Once you have started a work placement or further training, we can offer continuing support, and, with your agreement, we can extend this offer to employers, employment services, education establishments and training agencies. Where is the service based? The service is housed in a 250-year-old building in the centre of Braintree that was originally used for making silk. Most of the activities take place here, though naturally people on college courses or work placements get out and about to local colleges and places of work. Who are the staff? The staff team is made up of ten people: one Manager and nine specialist training and social support staff. Each of the Workshop Trainers has particular skills and qualifications in the subject that they are teaching and all the staff are trained in mental health issues. When is the service open? We are open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am to 4pm on Fridays. How many hours each week can I attend? People can come to Prospects for up to three days each week. Many people do come along for this much time, others just come for a few hours each week. Can I get involved in the running of the service? We believe very strongly that the project should be run and developed by the people who use the service, as well as by those who deliver it. A members’ forum meets monthly where staff and members can discuss what’s happening at the service, and talk about any problems or ideas that members have. Issues can then be taken forward by the elected six-person members’ committee. Members can also get involved in the recruitment of new staff. How much does it cost to use the service? Using Prospects is free, though there is a £1 per day charge for lunch and drinks are 60p. If you live in the Mid-Essex area and use public transport to get to Prospects, we will reimburse your fare. Prospects is mainly funded by Essex County Council, but it receives other funding from organisations such as the European Social Fund, Witham, Braintree and Halstead Primary Care Trust and grant-making trusts, and receives some revenue by selling its services, products and donations. Evening and weekend social group A new evening and weekend support service is based in the building. This is aimed at local people with mental health problems who feel that they need a little extra support in building or maintaining their social networks, or require support to access community activities such as the cinema. People who feel that they might be at risk of developing mental health problems are also welcome. The group takes part in a whole range of leisure activities in and around Braintree, and the people who use this service will be assisted to take on the running of most of the activities as and when they are able. More information You can find out more about Prospects on their website (follow the link at the foot of the page), or contact them direct.