Skills and Employment

Building Better Opportunities (BBO) Bridges

The BBO Bridges Employment Project helps support people in Wolverhampton and the Black Country living with sight loss, or other disabilities or barriers, to find work and enhance the opportunities available to them. The programme supports people aged 25 and over, to increase work readiness and confidence for the purpose of progression into education, employment, self-employment or to improve independent job search skills.

Participants on the BBO Bridges Project can access bespoke one-to-one mentoring with their Employment Officer, for support with job search skills, CVs, application forms and interview techniques. Tailored IT support is available and there are also opportunities for work placements within our Fab Lab facility, which is a digital and design skills manufacturing area. We can also support individuals to access voluntary placements and many other resources that are available via our network of partners, all of which will help to improve confidence and develop new skills.

This project is funded through the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

BBO Evolve

BBO Evolve supports people over the age of 16 to find employment or enter education and boost their social skills. The scheme covers targeted activities with workshops in community venues. This could include:

• IT training
• Cookery courses
• Bespoke employability courses
• Financial workshops

The aim is to get people living with sight loss and any other disabilities or barriers engaged in activities to improve their work readiness and progress into education, employment or self-employment and to become economically active. This project is funded through the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Support is open to those living in areas including:

• Cannock
• Lichfield
• Tamworth
• East Staffordshire

If you would like to find out more about the scheme, email bbyrne@beaconvision.org

Pathway

Our Pathway programme offers tailored support for those looking for employment, as well as advice and guidance for those who need to develop their skills, boost their confidence and return to work. We can help you find the right role in the workplace and give you the support you need to make it work for you. We can also help to improve your independence through the use of aids, adaptations and technology.

Our tailored programme will help you by offering:

• Career advice and guidance
• Volunteer opportunities
• Support to help with cooking, mobility and other personal and domestic life skills
• Opportunities to improve IT and financial skills
• Job search sessions
• A relaxed and friendly environment with tailored plans to support your needs

For free support to help you develop your skills, gain support to find suitable employment opportunities and build confidence call 01902 880 111 for the Pathway to Reablement Project or email rshaw@beaconvision.org