MP Meets Jobseekers Being Equipped For Success

Julian Brazier, MP for Canterbury and Whitstable, visited a Salvation Army centre on Tuesday last week that is aiding jobseekers on the road to employment.

Canterbury Salvation Army church, on Whitehorse Lane, runs an Employment Plus Local initiative at its centre. There, members of the community can drop-in to receive help and advice in searching for and applying for work.

Employment Plus Local initiatives focus on empowering people to gain employment by offering practical advice and support. Some initiatives run skills development classes in addition to basic IT enhancement training as well as practical provisions for job-hunting such as stationery and stamps.

In Canterbury, jobseekers can drop in or make appointments to receive one-to-one support on a weekly basis.

The Salvation Army corps officer (church minister) in charge, Major Mandy Sands, said: ‘The Salvation Army has been committed since its earliest days to ensuring people have basic standards of living – food, shelter and a way of supporting themselves. Employment Plus is one way we empower people to be able to achieve these basics for themselves.'

Leslie Durrant, a member of the church and the leader of the Employment Plus initiative, said: “Through Employment Plus, we work hard to help those who are unemployed so they can attain their full potential. Some of our visitors have no experience using computers, so online systems can prove baffling and be a potential obstacle in finding work. By offering one-to-one support as they learn to use technology, as well as further tools and advice they need to support themselves, we can work to ensure they don’t become trapped in a cycle of poverty and welfare dependency.’  

Julian Brazier MP met with volunteers and jobseekers at Canterbury Salvation Army’s Employment Plus programme as they worked together to pursue employment goals.

He said: ‘Today’s visit has allowed me to see demonstrated the practical ways The Salvation Army is engaging with its community to overcome obstacles to employment. The ethos of “work for all” is evident, as is the team’s commitment to making a difference in their community by empowering those who are a part of it. The Salvation Army does not offer a short-term solution, but instead equips people with the tools for sustainable success in the future.’