Salvation Army launches employment service in Willenhall
published on 3 Nov 2023
The Salvation Army in Willenhall is launching a new employment service at their church on Field street on Monday 6 November from 10am – 1pm.
The service called ‘Employment Plus Local’ is an initiative which will help local people who have found it difficult to find and sustain employment or get back into the workplace. The service is open to all Willenhall jobseekers on a walk-in basis who feel they might need extra support with their jobhunting.
Lee Highton-Nicholls, leader of the church said:
“The Salvation Army are reaching out to local people who want to get back into work. We have employment experts for those who need extra help returning to the jobs market - who struggle to get online, we can help. For people who have been sick long term and need to re-train or get some work experience for a while, we can help.
“The Salvation Army can help people to rebuild confidence, organise relevant training, look at building a tailored CV and practice job interviews. Looking for a job is a full-time job in itself. Our Employment Plus service is also an opportunity for the people of Willenhall to access other kinds of support if they are concerned about the cost-of-living, or simply to seek advice before their concerns become a crisis. We do all these things with a message of hope and transformation through God’s love”.
Over the last year, the church has grown in numbers and many people have come to The Salvation Army looking for support with issues such as homelessness - including sofa-surfing - support with the cost-of-living and assistance with local authority and utilities suppliers. The team has also helped with benefits advice - including applications for Personal Independence Payments and Work Capability Assessments, food parcels, digital access, wellbeing and addictions advice.
The new Employment Plus service will run on every Monday from 10am until 1pm and will provide the community with a warm and safe space to meet, seek advice and get access to computers and Wi-Fi in a friendly environment. A qualified member of staff will be on site to offer bespoke support and assistance to individuals.
In recent months, The Salvation Army employment service has also delivered a dedicated employability programme at the church for jobseekers who are 50+ years old. Just under half of those that attended gained sustained employment.
The Salvation Army in Willenhall also includes Christian worship for people of all ages. On Wednesdays the church runs a ‘Singing By Heart’ activity which is dementia-friendly, for people living with dementia and their carers, and welcomes all who wish to participate. A community drop-in is open on Thursdays and provides a warm space with refreshments and toys for children.
For more information about the new Employment Plus service at Willenhall see: https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/willenhall-employment-service and to book an appointment call: 0800 652 4276.
