James Parnell, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and actress and singer Michelle Gayle both attended a celebration evening last week at the Bankside Gallery, Southwark celebrating the achievements of clients of our pathways2work project. 

Over 70 people attend the event, organised by Training and Volunteer Manager, Mary McDougall, 3 residents gave moving and motivating speeches about their experiences of being supported by the project and how it had helped them change their lives for the better by providing work experience or employment.  Algina Williams who now works as a Service Improvement Project Officer in our Asset Management team was one of those who gave a speech.

Michelle Gayle gave out certificates to the volunteers followed by a speech by our Chief Executive, Brendan Sarsfield.  Brendan highlighted the importance of residents of social housing finding employment and the impact it can make on reducing social problems such as Anti-Social Behaviour and child poverty. 

James Parnell, Minister of State for Pensions Reform at the Department of Work and Pensions, said “listening to the real barriers that people face getting into work and the impact that the project has achieved is inspirational.

The event was also held to say thank you to the project’s funders – Southwark Council and Community Investment at Family Mosaic.

Set up in 2005, the project has gone from strength to strength and in this year alone the Team have placed 200 clients into sustainable employment, 96 jobs and 38 into work experience. It is Matrix accredited for good practise in Advice and Guidance and was one of only 12 organisations in the UK to get the Matrix Excellence Award in November 2007.

Well done to Mary for organising the event, to pathways2work staff for supporting clients so successfully this year: Rosie Hewson Claudette Wilson, Paul Flavell, Liz Hanchard, Carolyn Riley and Cheryl Moore, and to other Community Investment Team members who attended for making it such a successful evening:  Merryn Butler, Reg Amoah, Leila Ben-Hassel and Ken Drysdale.