The DWP/ESF funded Hardest to Help project in Brent and Harrow recently celebrated its second 
anniversary and the success of the project.
An open day was organised at the Harrow office, and Mr Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East attended to present the certificate of achievement to the team. The event was attended by many partners who have helped to make the project such a success. The Sub-Contractors working alongside Kennedy Scott also attended with their teams to enjoy the celebrations.
Over the first two years the project has signed up 1000 participants and supported 225 of them into employment. This has been achieved through a mix of one to one sessions and group training sessions. This in terms of performance means that in the last year the team has achieved a 33% success rate. This is 2% short of the 35% target, which in the current economic climate is very positive.
The Team (including the sub-contractors) represents the diverse community that it serves, with a range of languages spoken and cultures represented by the team. The Sub-contractors are all specialists in specific target areas set by DWP/ESF contract. The project works with a wide range of participants including: those with Disabilities or health conditions, Lone parents, long term unemployed, 50+, refugees, those with ESOL needs, BAME, Carers, ex-offenders and those with alcohol or drug issues.
The project was inspected by OFSTED in March and achieved a grade 3 satisfactory mark. It also led to an entry on the OFSTED good practice website for the innovative Health and Fitness work it does. The report is available on their website and comments on other good practice on the project.
The project Business Manager, Jan Townsend also spoke at the TAEN (the age and employment network) conference in November 2009 about success with 50+ participants and this led to a video interview being posted on the ESF works website. It has also led to Jan contributing two chapters on working with partners and working with JobcentrePlus to their new online provider guide:
Jan and Kerry (her deputy) also gave a presentation to the London ESF event in February 2010 about good practice working with 50+ participants.
The project is delivered through a partnership managed by KS which includes: Lifeline projects who work with participants with drug or alcohol issues. They are based in the Kennedy Scott Wembley office. PLIAS resettlement who work with ex-offenders in the community and work from Bridge Park, and Citizens Trust who also work with ex-offenders, mostly pre-release and are based in Ealing.
The project has led to really strong working relationships with the sub-contractors. This has in turn helped us secure a new project in Waltham Forest, again working with Hardest to Help participants, and using PLIAS resettlement and Lifeline Projects again as sub-contractors.
