Let’s get jobless back to work!

Richard bounces back to help others
A MAN made redundant by Oldham Council is putting his skills to use for the good of the community.

Richard Outram, from Shaw, has set up the Crossley Work Club in the Radclyffe Outreach Centre, to help people from the estate.

Until March, Richard was working on a Gateways to Oldham project, helping to reinvigorate the area, but delays in funding left him without a position.

“I was motivated to do this because I was horrified by the levels of unemployment I found in the area, especially among the under 25s, and wanted to do something to help,” he said.

Using skills from a former job, he established the work club on Friday afternoons inviting job seekers to the centre in Kent Avenue for help with CVs, interview training and help with finding vacancies.

Seeking help from the business community for his ambitious project, Richard contacted Alan Hasty, the president of Oldham Lions, who has since become involved.

Mr Hasty, from Chadderton, is a former adviser with the JobCentre.

Their work has attracted the attention of other groups and they are setting up a second work club, in the Park Estate Tenants’ Room. Richard is seeking premises for a third club in the centre of Chadderton.

At the moment he is volunteering his time and expertise but is optimistic that he can find funding as a charity and get himself back into paid work.

“There is no reason why we cannot have these clubs all over Oldham,” he added.

Richard is also looking to set up at Enterprise Club, which would help those people looking to set up a business and get into self employment.

He can be contacted on richardoutram@hotmail.co.uk  or on 07711 913561.