MACs Deliver 940 Jobs
“Delivering 940 people into work is a fantastic achievement, especially in the current climate when jobs have become scarce. I believe that the MACs are one of the reasons Leicester has not suffered as badly as some other cities.” Assistant Mayor Councillor Ted Cassidy.
The Multi-Access Centre network includes facilities in the City Centre, Highfields, St Matthews, Braunstone, Saffron, New Parks, Northfields and Beaumont Leys. The network has engaged with over 5000 unemployed individuals who have been provided with advice, guidance, support, linkages to training opportunities, job search techniques and guaranteed interviews.
Partnership working has been crucial and a whole host of voluntary, community, private and public sector agencies have been working together to make the Network function.
The Partnership has included, B- Working, Apex Leicester Ltd, Highfields Community Centre, Leicester College, the Chamber of Commerce and two consortiums of community organisations in St Matthews and Highfields.
Throughout the morning the audience heard time and again how the MACs and their advisors had helped build confidence and skills for people who had previously little to no work experience. Assistant Mayor Ted Cassidy presented awards to people who had been nominated for their particular persistence in finding work. John Lewis also received an award for their support in taking on many people referred from the MACs
Isoblla Thornik, who now works for the City Council itself told the audience ”My advisor was always helping me, working to improve my English language skills and then practising interviews with me so I knew what to expect. Now I feel I am going from strength to strength”
Other awards were presented for Outstanding MAC Achiever (Tina Degio), Outstanding MAC Learner (Anthony Pope), In-work Support Achiever (Baljit Bhogal) and then MAC Champions for each of the eight Centres (Usha Gajjar, Jackie Eden, Razina Mussa, Aninha Cruz, Chris Neal, Sally Freer, Quirino Gomes, Daphne Burnett and Shakil Farouk.
“The strength of the Network has been the partnership working, the willingness to share information and the focus on working with individuals to deliver the wider range of services and support they have needed. It is always humbling when you realise how hard people work and the sacrifices they are prepared to make in order to get on and improve themselves. We have also benefited from some hugely committed staff.” Mike Dalzell, Head of Economic Regeneration
