Clubbing together to find work

A one-stop job shop is to be created in the battle against unemployment in the Ollerton and Boughton area.

From March, Ollerton and District Economic Forum will host a weekly work club where people can search for jobs and receive practical advice on how to find employment.

ODEF already runs the Wild Sherwood Scheme, which provides training and employment opportunities in Sherwood Forest, and the Feel Good Foods project, which works with the probation and youth offending services to offer volunteering opportunities.

Mrs Carol White, the work club project coordinator, said: “It will tie in with the other projects we already have to complete the picture.

“Our office will be a one-stop shop if you are looking for work opportunities in Ollerton.

“Being unemployed can be quite a lonely experience,” she said.

“This will get people together who are looking for work so that they can support each other, share their experiences and help themselves and each other find work.

“It will also help people to develop a wider network of contacts, because often opportunities can arise through word of mouth from people you know.”

People who use the club will be able to use the ODEF office to look for vacancies using computers, newspapers and job boards.

There will be guest speakers and CV and interview advice.

Mrs White said the agenda would be set by those using the club.

“It is really about self-help so it will be very much guided by the people who come in,” she said.

“They can raise any issue that they want to talk about in terms of getting a job, and we will then put on a relevant training session to address those specific issues.”

She said the aim was to get the support of employers, who would advertise vacancies at the work club.

The job club launches on March 1 at ODEF on Forest Road, Ollerton. It will run on Thursdays, from 9.30am to noon.

For more information contact Mrs White on 01623 863887, or email carol@odef.org.uk