Pictured above: Bar owner Kevin Murphy (yellow shirt,
back row) joins Hannah Palmer (front left), Lorna Groom and other
jobseekers from the Pertemps People Development Group employability
skills sessions who are staging a fundraising event on behalf of
Leamington Spa youngster Jack Linstead
Leamington Spa youngster Jack Linstead is closer to getting the
electric wheelchair that will transform his life after a group of
unemployed people vowed to rise to a challenge.
The 28 jobseekers are taking part in employability skills
sessions run by employment experts Pertemps People Development
Group (PPDG) under the Flexible New Deal (FND) initiative.
They decided to help Jack's parents raise £3,000 for the
wheelchair after being told of his plight by Hannah Palmer, a
member of the group who is also the two-year-old's auntie.
They have planned a fundraising 'Games Evening' at Murphy's Bar
in Regent Street on Wednesday, October 27, from 8pm onwards, and
everyone is invited.
Karen Baldyga, multi-functional and skills for life trainer at
PPDG's Leamington Spa offices, decided the fundraising target could
inspire the group and help them to learn skills that will be vital
in their search for work.
She said: "I have a group of clients who are currently
participating in their four-week mandatory work-related activity,
as part of Flexible New Deal, with myself at the Leamington
Centre.
"As well as the usual employability skills sessions, I have
devised the 'PPDG Challenge'. This is to organise and run an
activity or event that will be of benefit to the community in some
way. The intention is to help members of the group to develop some
of the skills that employers are looking for, such as good
communication, working as part of a team and problem solving.
"The sense of achievement from participating in such an activity
also acts as a motivational tool and helps boost their confidence
and self esteem. We have had some success with some of our long
term unemployed customers gaining employment either during or
following the programme."
She added: "This particular group elected to plan, organise and
run a fundraising event to raise money for little Jack whose Auntie
Hannah is part of the group. The whole group were unanimous in
pledging their support for the little boy".
Jack was born with a condition called Arthrogryposis which means
that his arms and legs are permanently bent. Although surgeons can
operate on his tendons and ligaments, it is unlikely that he will
ever be able to walk. To make his life easier and encourage his
independence, his parents would like to be able to buy Jack a new
£3,000 electric wheelchair.
At the event, the group will be running darts, pool and poker
tournaments, and a sports quiz. There will also be a raffle with
fantastic prizes including a free car valet and a deluxe car
valeting kit, both donated by Mazda in Leamington Spa, three
portrait sittings by Storms Studios, key cutting, a manicure,
kitchen accessories and a cuddly toy. Landlord Kev Murphy is
donating the venue free of charge and will also host the
quiz.
PPDG delivers the Government's Welfare to Work strategy across
the Midlands through Flexible New Deal, Work Focused Training and
other employment initiatives. PPDG is using its vast experience of
helping long-term unemployed people get back into work to help
local jobseekers secure employment opportunities.
PPDG's team of employment experts provide advice on benefits,
confidence building, one-to-one support, CV and interview
preparation as well as finding the right job or training course. In
partnership with DWP, the Ministry of Justice and Jobcentre Plus,
PPDG delivers a diverse range of employment and training
initiatives including Flexible New Deal, Working Neighbourhoods
Fund, Learndirect and many ESF funded programmes.
More than 100,000 job seekers have been helped into sustained
employment by the company since the projects began. It has
trained 130,000 people in vocational skills, and over 175,000
people have benefitted from professional information, advice and
guidance services.