The Building Bridges programme supports people across Swindon and Wiltshire who are facing significant challenges in being able to develop their skills, access education or move towards the world of work.
Taking part in the programme is entirely voluntary and all of our advice and support is offered free of charge.
The Building Bridges programme is a partnership of local organisations who are experts at supporting people and giving them the skills and confidence they need to move towards the world of work, education or training. We work with people on a one-to-one basis to help them address the challenges and barriers they are facing and develop a personalised plan to help them achieve their goals at a pace they are comfortable with.
We understand that there are many different factors which affect whether people feel ready to take the next step forwards – this is why we also offer specialist help and support in a number of areas including developing physical and mental wellbeing, accessing debt and financial advice and help with issues such as transport and childcare.
The programme is jointly funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund. You can find out more about the Building Bridges programme and our funding and programme partners by visiting the Building Bridges website.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the programme you must be;
- Aged 15 or over, living in Wiltshire or Swindon and currently unemployed. Please note that we are not able to work with anyone who is employed in any capacity, but we can work with people who are on zero-hours contracts that have not received any income from employment in the last three months.
- You must have the legal right to work in the UK in order to take part. The programme can support registered refugees but is currently unable to work with asylum seekers.
- The Building Bridges programme is also unable to work with people who are currently in prison.
Meet The Team
John Hillman
I have been a development worker with the Building Bridges programme since November 2021. The best part of my job is undoubtedly my participants. It is a real privilege to be able to support, encourage and empower people to overcome their barriers and achieve their goals. In addition, a great part of my job is being part of an amazingly supportive team, who are committed to improving the lives of the people of Wiltshire.
I have personally faced significant challenges in life and been supported to overcome barriers. My personal experience enables me to empathise with, and appreciate, the challenges faced by my participants. I enjoy the role because I am able to see my participants grow in confidence and achieve their full potential.
Rose Evans
I have a vast experience supporting people back into work, since 2008 and I have been working on the Building Bridges programme for nearly 3 and a half years. The best part of the job is meeting new clients, helping and supporting them with their journey and barriers.
I love my job especially working for the Council and a great team I am a part of, I get such a buzz when the clients achieve their goals.
Penelope Taylor
I am fairly new to the Building Bridges team and work behind the scenes with finances, admin support and anything else that is needed. My background is a Team Leader role for the Prince’s Trust Team programme so I know how beneficial receiving help from our development workers can be in helping them to achieve their goals and go on to succeed in life.
The best part of my job is working alongside an amazing team of enthusiastic people who are committed to helping people develop new skills and find themselves again along their journey and make incredible changes to peoples lives.
Even though I’m hidden away in my office I am still able to bring a range of knowledge of employability skills and local information on other groups and support in the area. I absolutely love my job and it feels great to be part of a team where our main goal and focus is to continue to help those who need it the most.
Case Studies
Philip
| Philip self-referred himself onto the programme in September 2021 as wanted help to find employment considering his age (60). Philip has had employment support before but never found it to be that helpful and always been done over the phone. Philip has a physical health issue which meant he had to change career from warehousing to something more stationary. Over the time with Building Bridges Philip has achieved the following: · Felt supported and have confidence to be work ready. In past felt CV and Cover letter never really reflected the true him, was not reflecting his voice. The CV and Cover Letter the Development Worker completed with him reflected Philips’s experience and skills in a clear concise way. So much that his CV has been noticed on Indeed where prospective employers have called him up to enquire if suitable for a role, they have available. · Able to find his next career path and upskilling via online courses that fit his needs. This includes competing a Business course with Go Train and currently undertaking a payroll course. Finding personal joy and happiness in going back to education.
Recently had a review with Phillip and feedback was: “Building Bridges support has been pretty comprehensive and given me the confidence to focus on something of my own interest. It given me that glimmer of hope that one day an opportunity will present itself and that I can still try to work even though I’m older than most.” |
Adam
Adam has a learning disability and health issues, he was made redundant at the start of the pandemic, he started to volunteer to help maintain routine in his life.
He felt his emotional well – being was improving, over time he was offered a part time position with the employer and then later a full time position! He is now feeling happy and confident in his role.
Adam’s Development Worker
Dylan
Dylan originally did not come onto the programme as was not the right time for support, but he got back in touch at a later date. Dylan was completing some online courses with inner flame it as this was remote, he felt he needed a male role model to support him to move forward in his education and employment. I (Sean) was allocated Dylan and I sent a one-page profile to him introducing him to my skills from a brief phone call of talking about his interest in music he felt comfortable to engage from there we meet in person and have been having weekly meetings face to face since June 2021 to build hup his confidence employability and education passion.
Dylan has undertaken a lot of activities during his time on the programme these include:
– Attending build a bike and gaining AQA qualification in dissembling and reassembling a bike. Feedback from tutor was “Dylan really thrived in the sessions, got on with it without much hesitation and became one of the lads ie.. he bantered a lot. He worked hard and really enjoyed the sessions. Dylan started off shy but near the end of sessions he really came out of his shell”.
– Making friends with another participant of his age and sharing their interest in music and having connections together outside the development worker regime.
– Becoming work ready by being shown how to format a cv transfer transferrable skills and complete cover letters. Applied for a couple roles together.
– Attending on online course run for building bridges participants, Dylan said it has helped with his sleep pattern and given him a routine and helped changed his mindset.
Dylan’s feedback from the programme:
“The support from my development worker is an A-plus, been very supporting, I feel in a better place confidence wise and feel I would stick in a job once in it. Given me the push to overcome my mental barrier of not progressing, feel prepared for the workplace and improved my social confidence and communication”.
Dylan currently has three opportunities lined up which includes a music internship which he has independently applied for himself through some help and tips from his development worker. I am confident that overtime Dylan will get to where he wants to be from being on the programme.