A GROUP of ex-offenders from Cheshire West are on the right track to employment thanks to a pilot skills and training initiative.
Chester and District Housing Trust (CDHT) has been running the Navigate Employ programme alongside partners Cheshire police, Cheshire Probation, Cheshire West and Chester Council and North West training provider Scientiam.
The group on the Navigate Employ programme received adult literacy and numeracy certificates, as well as Step Up Customer Service Awards, at a presentation at CDHT’s Octavian Centre.
Sarah McGrady, Pathways co-ordinator at CDHT, said the programme was launched to reduce the number of persistent offenders who are unemployed across the region, in areas including Ellesmere Port, Chester, Winsford and Northwich.
She said: “Many offenders revert to crime because they have no job, no skills and no self-confidence. This programme was about breaking down the barriers to employment.
“We worked with our partners to create paid work placements for the group, treating them the same as any other employee.
“Most of the jobs were in areas such as groundworks, maintenance and decorating, but it was also vital for us to work with each individual to address their skills gaps.”
