MP Meets Community Centre Staff Committed to Backing Jobseekers

Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury, Whitstable and surrounding villages, visited a Salvation Army employment drop in centre in Canterbury yesterday (Thursday 24th May 2018). The centre offers tailored support to people looking for work.

Twice a week, The Salvation Army’s Canterbury Corps (church) and adjacent community centre known as ‘The Annexe’, runs an Employment Plus Local initiative from its Whitehourse Lane base. On average, 65 people each month, make use of the free employment service. 

Jobseekers in the area receive professional advice as they take part in job searches, are guided to create quality job applications and CVs and are prepared for their return to employment. Support is also available if jobseekers need help with completing forms on paper or online.  

Rosie Duffield MP visited Canterbury Salvation Army and saw for herself the facilities available to jobseekers. She also took the opportunity to meet with Employment Plus Local volunteers to ask them about their experiences in offering tailored support to people looking for work.

Rosie Duffield said: “Canterbury Salvation Army is a great example of a compassionate community recognising a need and meeting it. Today, it has been rewarding to hear from people who came to The Salvation Army for help searching for work and who have had such great support from the staff and volunteers through the Employment Plus scheme.  It was also a pleasure to meet visitors to the community drop in centre and baby bank to see first-hand how that was of benefit to so many people.”

Salvation Army church leader, Major Mandy Sands said: “The Salvation Army in Canterbury wants to get alongside jobseekers as they try to find work, particularly working with people who have faced barriers in making their way back into employment.

“Our role is to prepare people to become job-ready and to stay in work, helping them identify any obstacles and support them as they overcome them – whether that’s building self-confidence, supporting them as they address housing or financial issues, helping with job searches or offering guidance.

“The Salvation Army is committed to working in Canterbury, providing practical help and compassionate support to people, and empowering them to make a difference in their lives and that of the community as a whole. 

“Alongside our employment service, The Annexe is open every weekday as a space for people who just want to sit and relax or for people who may need to share a burden. Our volunteers are always ready to help.”

Employment Plus services have been running at The Annexe at Canterbury Salvation Army for the past nine years and offer a variety of services including helping with benefit claims applications. The Annexe Community Centre is open every weekday staffed by a team of 25 volunteers.

As part of the national Salvation Army Employment Plus service, volunteers receive ongoing guidance, support and training to help people who are unemployed find and stay in work. Becoming part of a community where people are building their confidence, job skills, and discovering new things about themselves - these are some of the positive benefits The Salvation Army has seen people gain from being in work, volunteering or taking part in a work-experience placement through the help of The Salvation Army.