On Wednesday at Preston Road Community Centre (PRCC) the South Abingdon Partners Network met. This networking event happens about every two months and brings together people active in South Abingdon so that they can explain what they are working on and look at ways of helping each other or using each other’s service. There were over twenty people there. Every two months the makeup of attendees changes.
Here is a quick rundown of some of the groups:
- Inspiring minds – run courses (cooking) and activities (Hope Cafe)
- Study Higher ( support students from less academic backgrounds to consider higher education)
- Healthy Abingdon
- PRCC
- Abingdon Fridge ( give away unused food)
- Yellow Submarine ( activities for learning disabled teenagers)
- Vale of White Horse District Council (were promoting a Job Fair and IDEAs – digital Duke of Edinburgh awards)
- NHS – Talking Space Plus (help people get active through talking therapies, volunteering or back to work)
- DWP – Job Centre Plus (current focus on Single Parents and Women into Work)
- Employment and Training officer at Sovereign Housing (gives advise sessions)
- Carousel – South Abingdon Children’s Centre
- Abingdon Damascus youth outreach
- Vineyard Church (runs youth group and toddler group)
- PCSO – Police Community Support Officer
- Friends of Abingdon Civic Society (offer Community Freespace to groups)
- Thameside Primary School
A Job Fair will be held on April 30th. A number of the people had a direct input into that effort so that became one area of discussion and collaboration.
There was quite a lot of talk between the people interested in getting people back to work that for one reason or another needed support, and help when things go wrong.
The Disability Employment Advisor at the Job Centre talked about additional support and funding than can be provided to help people into work. Employers can become Disability Confident employers and take a community lead in giving equal opportunities to people with disabilities.