First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its employment service

FCHO Employment Support Advisor Suzie Redpath with customer Nicholas Benson.

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its employment service that has helped nearly 2000 of its customers into work since 2016.

Called the Directions Service by the housing association, the dedicated team helps people with CVs, interview techniques, covering letters and general support to find them a job.

In total, 3491 customers have been supported with job applications and 1916 found work. On average this has led to an income improvement per employed customer of £684 per month. The social value impact of customers starting work is £30 million or £3m per year over the ten years, which FCHO calculated using the industry standard Housing Associations' Charitable Trust (HACT) framework.

One of those supported is Nicholas Benson who has been helped over six years to find a variety of roles until he secured a position as a medical laboratory assistant at Tameside Hospital. The 24-year-old graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a degree in biomedical science. However, he struggled to find a job linked to his qualification.

Employment support advisor, Suzie Redpath, who previously helped Mr Benson find work before he was a student, helped him to secure the permanent full-time NHS job. “I would have been stuck at square one and making the same mistakes applying for jobs by myself without Suzie,” said Mr Benson. “She really helped support me even after the interviews. She's always been there throughout these last six years and I am very grateful.”

Mrs Redpath said: “FCHO often says it is more than just a landlord and ten years of our Directions Service and the nearly 2000 people we have helped into employment really speaks to that.

“To have helped Nicholas find his dream job is what our work is all about. But on a wider scale it is so much more than finding jobs, it means more money into households and communities and the social value is huge in areas such as improved mental health and parents working and being an example to their children.

"It also promotes wellbeing, confidence and gives purpose. These should not be underestimated either,” she added.

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