Written by Anne Hay, Employability Project Co-ordinator, Works 4 Women
Established in 2017, Works 4 Women (W4W) is partnership between Edinburgh Women’s Aid and Shakti Women’s Aid. The service helps women survivors of domestic abuse to build their confidence to return to education, training or employment. It currently employs two full-time and one part-time member of staff.
The programme supports adult women aged between 18 - 70 years. Regular group sessions are delivered alongside person-centred one-to-one support which focuses on the individual needs of each woman. Clients are guided to set healthy personal boundaries and identify their skills. Women are supported to set achievable goals to help them take control of their future plans.
Towards the end of last year, sixteen participants took part in a very successful Works 4 Women employability course called “Work for your Future”. The course covered CV writing, interview preparation and practice. Participants took part in a mock interview held in partnership with FUSE Edinburgh, an organisation which handles recruitment for businesses in the St James Quarter and surrounding area. Working with other support organisations raises awareness of the specific needs of these clients and allows workers to tailor support to the individual requirements of each woman.
Since completing the course, seven women have now started work, one has taken up a volunteering opportunity and one is starting a college course soon. All women who attended regularly felt that their confidence grew. This led to improved mental and physical health and some women also commented that they felt like a strong role model to their children.
Other group sessions cover a range of topics including developing IT skills, personal finance and photography. Clients were also offered one-to-one support to help them identify skills, search for and apply for jobs and courses, dependant on personal requirements. Many require support to improve their digital skills or English language, when English is not their first language. Due to high demand and limited provision of English language (ESOL) classes in Edinburgh, many women experience several months wait before securing a place in a class.
One participant is a recent health care graduate and was already volunteering in a social care role when she joined the programme. She attended the Work for your Future group sessions and received one-to-one support over a four-month period. W4W was also able to provide her with a laptop to help with job searching. Within three months, she secured paid work as a school support assistant. She is also a successful recipient of the Ruth Hayman Trust, who will pay for her professional registration with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Once registered, she intends to apply for work as a radiographer within the NHS. Her self-confidence has grown immensely, and she is moving towards full financial independence.
The team is currently running two-weekly confidence building group sessions for women. Plans are in place to run six-week employability programme in spring 2025. This programme will be running for the third time, in partnership with State Street, an American bank based in Edinburgh. Last year this was highly successful with 81% of participants securing work or study within six months. Staff will also continue to support women to prepare for work and apply for college and training courses throughout the year.
Whilst we hope that organisations like Women’s Aid and Shakti Women’s Aid will not need to exist in future, for now there continues to be a high demand for our services. We are encouraged that W4W plays a crucial role in supporting women to not only recover from the trauma they have faced but to build a future for themselves and their families.
Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.
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Written by Lauren Ridgley, Project Manager Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce
“We believe net zero is not just a journey from which to learn from, but a mandatory one that we must venture down to ensure we maintain the value chain we have created. This affects every aspect of our operation, be that the lives of the staff we employ, the suppliers we source resources from, or the countries we liaise with to create products and services. All aspects are considered and net zero is the guide in preserving them.”
Fraser Walker, Sustainability Executive, Muckle Brig (pictured in the image above)
Edinburgh based drinks company, Muckle Brig, is leading the way in working towards net zero and sustainability with the support of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Net Zero project.
Who is Muckle Brig?
Muckle Brig, based in Leith, is the umbrella company behind Port of Leith Whisky Distillery, Lind and Lime Gin Distillery and The Leith Export Company. It is a wine and spirits purveyor, with a team of 75 across production, hospitality, sales and visitor experience.
Muckle Brig and Sustainability
Although Muckle Brig are at the start of their net zero journey, sustainability and climate action is at the core of the business. Fraser Walker, Sustainability Executive said: “We are engaged in climate change because we need to be. If we are to meet our sector target of Net Zero by 2040, or the UK target of Net Zero by 2050 then now is the time to act. The responsibility of the land we use, ingredients we source, people we staff and place we reside in are our own – maintaining them is part of our company culture.”
Before joining the Net Zero Edinburgh cohort, Muckle Brig had already done significant work to start collating data to calculate their carbon emissions. They also had a focus on their operational carbon footprint and ensuring a sustainable supply chain. For example, their Lind and Lime Gin is 100% organic and plastic free, and the gin still uses 100% green electricity. The whisky distillery uses locally sourced barley, less than 15 miles from the production site. Muckle Brig also support their visitors to make sustainable choices, encouraging them to take public transport with excellent bus, tram, walking and cycling links to their venues, which is showcased through their marketing materials on their website and advertising on Edinburgh Trams.
Engaging with the Net Zero Edinburgh project
To accelerate their progress, Muckle Brig joined a Net Zero cohort which provides businesses with tailored support to calculate their carbon footprint and to write a carbon reduction plan. The cohort is part of the Net Zero Edinburgh project run by the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and supported by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Fraser Walker stated: “We wouldn’t be where we are in our journey if it wasn’t for the Net Zero Edinburgh cohort.”
Over the next few months, the company will be focussing on creating a carbon report and strategy for the next year, aiming to publish this in 2025 which will help them strive towards their net zero target which is in line with the Scottish Whisky Association SBT of 2040. Muckle Brig have also engaged with other initiatives which highlight their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Last year they became B Corp certified and earlier this year Lind and Lime was awarded the Green Tourism Gold Award. Both initiatives highlight the company’s commitment not only to their net zero journey, but also to the local community, to their employees, and to sustainable tourism practices.
The Net Zero Edinburgh project, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, aims to support Edinburgh’s SMEs on their net zero journey as well as backing innovative decarbonisation projects in the city. For further information about the project and the support available please get in touch with the team at pr******@*****************co.uk
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Written by Joymarie Robinson (Project Worker, Barnardo’s) and Georgina Bowyer (UKSPF Grants Manager, Capital City Partnership)
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) supports twelve organisations in Edinburgh to provide employability services for those who are looking to move into work. The fund complements employability provision already in place through Scottish Government initiatives, by adding projects tailored to specific audiences and/or those that offer a unique form of support.
Employability sometimes acts as a “finishing school” for those who have relevant skills and abilities, but perhaps need interview practice, expert advice on job applications, or need financial support to access workwear or to pay the first instalment of nursery fees. For others, engaging with an employability service can be a longer-term commitment, tackling barriers to work such as housing problems or mental health difficulties, assessing career path options, and helping an individual to gain new skills and experience before moving into work.
Last week was the UN’s International Day of Education, which reminds us of the work still to be done to ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education for everyone. It also highlights the important role that education plays in promoting peace and development across the world. Noting this occasion, we spoke to Barnardo’s about their UKSPF-funded work with young people in Edinburgh and the role that education has played in young people’s lives and their pathways to work.
The Barnardo’s team kindly shared a story about a young man called Darren, who is care experienced. Darren is 24 and previously held a CSCS labourers' card and worked in construction. Darren was referred to Barnardo’s by his social worker because his CSCS card had expired which limited his ability to find work. The lack of stable home support meant that this was difficult for Darren to address on his own.
Staff at Barnardo’s supported Darren to review the topics covered on the CSCS exam, renew his Elementary Health and Safety qualification, create a CV, and eventually sit and pass the exam. Darren also received support to access benefits and obtain official identification. Many factors about being in care make it particularly difficult for young people to engage with education and training, from the associated costs to the availability of mental health services. According to the Scottish Government, over 14,000 children and young people are in care. This statistic does not include those who have left care. This indicates a significant cohort of Scottish young people who must overcome substantial barriers to be able to engage in education, training or move into employment. Without the support of Barnardo’s, Darren would not have been able to renew his qualifications and would have struggled to progress in his career.
To help care experienced young people re-engage with education, Barnardo’s follow a comprehensive approach and address the multilayered barriers involved. It is important to consider mental health and access to benefits, and to ensure good physical health. Without their primary needs being met, young people struggle to focus on other things. Barnardo’s also strives to create strong partnerships with resource providers and social services to ensure that a holistic approach is applied.
Today, Darren has his CSCS card. He is looking for jobs as a labourer and is interested in specialised training in construction. Darren recently expressed how hopeful and excited he is about his prospects. He knows that Barnardo’s will support him should he need it - not only in work and training, but also with his health and access to resources and benefits. This has built Darren’s confidence, and he now views the future as holding multiple possibilities.
As we mark the International Day of Education this month, we celebrate the work undertaken by organisations like Barnardo’s. This work is crucial to ensuring that access to education and training becomes more inclusive and equitable, and to creating a future where all young people have the opportunity to learn and flourish.
Want to know more about UKSPF funded Edinburgh projects? Visit our UKSPF webpage.
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