Two of Jigsaw Support’s employability projects which closed at the end of March have shown to have successfully supported more than 7,500 people.
Motiv8 started in 2016, when it was funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and the European Social Fund until March 2023.
The partnership of five housing providers and specialist partners, led by Jigsaw, supported 5,979 people across Greater Manchester helping them to overcome barriers. Over 2,100 people started training, job search, and employment.
From April 2023, the project adapted and continued through funding from the DWP.
Over the next three years, we supported a further 1,525 individuals to move closer to the labour market. Of those, 833 progressed into training, 966 have been supported with job search activities, and 247 started employment or self-employment.
Support to Succeed provided person-centred, one-to-one support for those who were not currently accessing support, to overcome barriers to work in Greater Manchester. It was launched in February 2024 and managed by Manchester Athena.
During the two years they supported 809 people and achieved 3,491 outcomes.
One resident said: “My time with Motiv8 was great. My keyworker was really friendly and gave me a lot of confidence to go out into world and achieve the goals we set out to do. Now I am working full time and have my own place. I could not be more grateful for the help.”
Another added: “My keyworker was very polite and empathetic. She always checked in with me weekly and emailed me any extra support. If it wasn’t for her, I would not have gathered the strength to leave an abusive marriage. Even after I was safe in refuge, she contacted me regularly, so I got to thank her for helping me through one of the most stressful times. She was at the end of a phone for the four months I worked with her. She recognised when I had hit a crisis point and felt unsafe and she guided me through the process.”
Kerrie Pryde, Operations Director for Jigsaw Support, said: “Motiv8 and Support to Succeed have provided invaluable support to over 7,500 people across Greater Manchester. These testimonials offer a powerful insight into the difference the programmes have made. We will continue to offer support to residents and customers through our Employability Keyworkers, as well as through the Tameside Economic Trailblazer project.”
