Pictured above: Artist Rachel Bishop at work at the Bancroft Community Centre in Tamworth where she secured a job with support from Pertemps People Development Group

A Staffordshire artist is using her new role as an administrator to help youngsters fuel their passion for art.

Rachel Bishop's unemployment ordeal ended when she was given an opportunity to become administrator at the Bancroft Community Centre in Tamworth.

She secured the role thanks to her own hard work and determination after spotting the vacancy advertised at her local Jobcentre Plus. She also received support along the way from employment experts Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG).

Rachel, aged 23, from Tamworth, was offered the job after she discovered a position was available at the centre which offers training courses to help the unemployed develop new skills and get back into work.

PPDG employment coach Chris Sly encouraged her to go for the position in paid employment whilst still pursuing her long term career aims of art and music. Chris explained that PPDG would continue to support Rachel in any way it could and provided an open reference for her, along with the opportunity to promote sales of her art work through business cards and promoting her work to PPDG staff.

Several staff have asked Rachel to provide artwork for their own special family occasions. Chris said: "She is also starting to pursue her musical and training skills more by taking on a small group of piano pupils."

Rachel had been looking for work after she left the University of Wales Newport where she gained a BA (Hons) in Fine Art: Contemporary Media in 2008. She is a portrait artist and has exhibited her work at a number of venues. She also teaches piano.

She was referred to PPDG by Jobcentre Plus under the Flexible New Deal (FND) initiative. PPDG is delivering FND in Tamworth and across Staffordshire as part of the Government's Welfare to Work strategy. PPDG uses its vast experience to provide tailored solutions that help local jobseekers secure employment and training opportunities.

Rachel, who has secured a part time position at the centre, looks after a database which stores the courses that are on offer, and the people who use the service at the centre.

One of her roles is to apply for funding from various organisations. She was successful in gaining support through the National Lottery and Coalfields Regeneration Trust which helps develop projects which will benefit the community. The grant aid has helped Rachel set up a children's after-school art club which is run every Wednesday.

Rachel said: "Part of the role as administrator entails applying for funding for various community projects. I was successful in applying for funding for a children's after-school art club. I am really passionate about art so I was delighted to see it set up. It has been running a number of weeks now.

"I really enjoy the job and I am so grateful to PPDG for all the help and support. At the moment I am part time so I can continue with my art outside of work. It is working really well."

Chris added: "Rachel has shown a lot of skill, initiative and ability from the start and we are delighted to see her taking advantage of the opportunity of paid employment whilst still pursuing her long term career aims. We wish her every success in the future and keep in touch to see details of her local art exhibitions along with her valuable community art work with Art Switch in Tamworth."

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.