READING MP and Minister of State for Employment, Alok Sharma, visited the Salvation Army last month to meet with people who have benefitted from its tailored support.
Mr Sharma met with staff and clients ahead of Employability Day (28 June) at their homelessness ‘Lifehouse’ on Willow Street and church on Anstey Road.
Volunteers here run an Employment Plus Local service where experienced staff deliver personalised employment support to those who need it.
READ ALSO: Reading awarded £530,000 for homelessness initiatives.
Support includes assisting people with updating their CV, applying for jobs, preparing for interviews and budgeting skills.
The minister heard from staff about their experience supporting people finding work and from those who are homeless and preparing for longer-term accommodation.
Alok Sharma MP said: “Witnessing first-hand how the community work of The Salvation Army at Willow House, Reading, helps support vulnerable local people, was extremely encouraging and demonstrated the vital importance of the relationship between our local jobcentres and community organisations.
“Services such as the Employment Plus programme, available at 80 Salvation Army churches across the UK, provide a tailor-made pathway for unemployed people to find their way into work, complementing our welfare reforms aimed at removing the personal barriers people face to finding a good job.”
The Salvation Army’s homelessness and employment services have expanded and developed in recent months following continued demand.
The church and charity were awarded a contract for homelessness services by Reading Borough Council (RBC) last year which runs alongside the Employment Plus programme.
Manager of The Salvation Army homelessness services in Reading, Chris Scott, said: “When people come to us in desperate need, we help them overcome their problems and get their lives heading in the right direction.
“We do this by giving them unconditional love and support and by offering a range of specialist services run by trained officers, staff and volunteers."
Employment Plus offers a drop-in service every Tuesday at the church between 1pm and 3pm.
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