• delivering bold initiatives to reduce the vulnerability of low income families to financial exclusion and debt
• delivering MoneyHelp workshops to tens of thousands of people across Scotland
• working with government to improve access to financial support for people in disadvantaged and rural areas

We believe that bold new strategies are required to tackle the ever increasing problem of financial exclusion and personal debt. We believe that new initiatives, such as MoneyHelp, should be embraced and promoted across the whole of Scotland for the benefit of disadvantaged groups and communities.

• broadening the number of areas where we can deliver support to businesses and individuals working at the heart of their communities
• rolling out the Working Neighbourhood projects in some of Scotland’s most challenging communities
• tackling the 68% re-offending rate of Scottish prisoners; working with the Scottish Prison Service to deliver training, choice and employment opportunity

A4e believes that the key to building stronger communities lies in an enlightened approach to programme management that is based on partnerships between the public, private and third sector, sharing expertise, innovation and experience.

A4e are committed to being a social purpose company. We work with multiple partners from the Third and Voluntary sectors to help people secure new skills and sustainable employment.
Take a look at the films below which highlight our work in Scotland with Barnardos, the British Heart Foundation and the Oxgangs Junior School Community Garden Project in Edinburgh.

PLACE FILMED CASE STUDIES HERE

A4e also founded the Foundation for Social Improvement which has worked with over 1,000 Charity Organisations to deliver training and support with fundraising.
Visit the FSI website to find out more: http://www.thefsi.org/

A4e is delivering the brand new 2010 Community Task Force (CTF) programme which has started in East Scotland as part of our ongoing efforts to invest in the employment opportunities for our younger generation, and indeed future generations. A4e feel that sustained economic stability within communities can be achieved through investment in the younger generation. It is for this reason, that the CTF programme is primarily geared towards finding job placements that directly benefit the local community.

Support a wide pool of young people, keen to undertake work experience.

A4e will be working with businesses to give them the opportunity to offer work experience to members of the CTF programme. We feel it is important to stress that the candidates, provided to businesses will be individuals that have an interest in the sector of business that organisation deals with. We hope that businesses in Scotland will feel as passionately as we do about giving young people the chance to escape unemployment which will in turn strengthen economic stability in our communities. The younger generation have a much greater chance of securing permanent work, once they have undertaken relevant work experience via the CTF programme.

Paying close attention to specific requirements

A4e works alongside organisations to make sure the CTF placement runs smoothly and that needs are fulfilled by the candidates provided. A4e keeps in touch every step of the way, ensuring that all is going according to plan.

The desired effect of increasing employability prospects for young people can only be possible if the candidates partake in quality work experience that builds upon the knowledge and skills that they have.

These candidates could end up too good to let go

A4e have designed the CTF programme so that businesses can only benefit from offering work experience to candidates. There is no financial onus on any organisation, just the requirement to give candidates an insight into how things work within your sector. We want companies to feel that they have benefited from the programme as much as the candidates will but perhaps more importantly, we want the community as a whole to benefit.

Are you an Employer who could give a young person an opportunity or interested to find out more about the CTF Programme?

If so contact Dorothy Hewat at A4e Edinburgh on 0131 2288219

A4e in Glasgow provide our Connect to Work service across the city to people who are claiming health related benefits. This service is funded by The Department of Work and Pensions and is also well known as a job brokering service New Deal for Disabled People. – Our job brokering service could be described as ‘end to end’ with A4e delivering all assessment, support delivery, employer engagement, job entry and aftercare service. A4e recognise that aftercare is an integral part of the customer journey and to this end our aftercare support is offered for 52 weeks rather than the usual 26 weeks.

This has resulted in 80% of our customers sustaining employment. Despite the economic downturn, A4e Glasgow continues to exceed our 45% target by progressing over 65% of customers in to work. This strong performance is in no small part due to A4e Glasgow’s focus on Employer Engagement. Our teams are adept at not only identifying suitable employers but managing the balance between ensuring we retain employers while generating new employer relationships to meet our customer’s need.

This helps us track sectoral fluctuations within the local labour market and ensure we maximise vacancies in a our share of jobs within the restricted job market.
A4e Glasgow’s performance demonstrates our ability to support customers with acute barriers into employment, in this case disability. Our customers also lack confidence, self esteem and up to date employability skills. They are supported on their customer journey on an individual, flexible basis into employment.

Connect to Work Customer Feedback

If it wasn’t for the hard work of my Employment Coach I would still be on benefits. I would like to say a big thank you to her and A4e for all your help and support.

I think the support you give people is really helpful for getting back to work. Your staff are really supportive and helpful in what they do and I was extremely happy with the support.

Very much gratitude to the A4e team for a job very well done for helping me back into work. Very helpful, prompt and friendly, providing an invaluable service. Many thanks

I think the staff at A4e have worked wonders for me. Thank you for all of your support.

From my very first appointment my A4e advisor went out of her way to help me. Not only did she get me back into employment but she made me aware of what I would be entitled to once I made the transition into work. She made moving back into employment easy and stress free and I am incredibly grateful for that. She is an asset to your already fantastic organisation. Many thanks from myself and my family.

FND is working throughout Scotland in Edinburgh, Lothians’ and Borders areas.

The filmed case studies below show how we are helping people back into employment.

More information on FND can be found here on the MyA4e website

http://www.mya4e.com/4-People/Finding-Work/Flexible-New-Deal.aspx

For businesses link to www.FND4you.co.uk
For jobseekers link to www.A4eworks.co.uk

A4e work with SRC to support refugees via the RIES programme to ensure their transition to becoming a UK resident is as positive as possible. Despite the complex needs of refugees, A4e’s dedicated team in Glasgow rise to the challenge and continue to make a difference to the quality of each of their lives.

Quotes from Service Users

1. The RIES Project has been very good for me. I now go to college and A4e gave me really good advice on jobs and how to gain correct qualifications for jobs. Everyone at the A4e is very friendly. I like coming to the A4e office very much and my advisor is very special for me. Saadi, IRAQ

2. In the beginning I had serious housing and health issues but since joining the RIES Project everything is now okay. I really enjoy my ESOL classes at the A4e office and would like to thank the staff for all their help. Yousef, Eritrea

3. Since joining the RIES Project I am very pleased with the help I have been receiving from the A4e staff. They are very friendly and professional and I am getting all the help I need towards my ambition to do nursing. Patrick Zimbabwe

A4e works with the socially disadvantaged, engaging with some of the country’s hardest to help groups and enabling them to move from reliance on benefits to being able to succeed in a working environment. We are committed to:

• delivering innovative approaches to address the problems that exist in education and skills, to ensure that disadvantaged people in Scotland are given the opportunity to develop
• ensuring that people in excluded communities have the best chance of retaining employment through our Circle of Activity model
• offering a fresh start to disenfranchised school-age children through our Life Academy initiative
• a bold approach to supporting Incapacity Benefit recipients; helping to reduce the number of claimants

Working with people of all ages, from all backgrounds each possessing different barriers to employment, we offer training and opportunity that enables them to move forward in their life.

• delivering innovative approaches to address the problems that exist in education and skills, to ensure that disadvantaged people in Scotland are given the opportunity to develop
• ensuring that people in excluded communities have the best chance of retaining employment through our Circle of Activity model
• offering a fresh start to disenfranchised school-age children through our Life Academy initiative
• a bold approach to supporting Incapacity Benefit recipients; helping to reduce the number of claimants

Working with people of all ages, from all backgrounds each possessing different barriers to employment, we offer training and opportunity that enables them to move forward in their life.