Family Mosaic’s Pathways2Work project was the first Housing Association based project to be awarded a matrix Excellence Award for Information Advice and Guidance Services at the matrix Excellence Awards held on 21st November.

Awards were presented by James Cracknell, double Olympic rowing Gold medallist and world record holder, to 12 organisations which have achieved the matrix quality standard for information advice and guidance services.  Winners were chosen from the 17000 projects across the UK which are matrix standard organisations.

David Lammy, MP, Skills Minister gave the key note speech at the awards dinner held at the Institute of Directors, he said “It’s clear that our ability to be a cohesive society depends on the front-line people delivering an excellent service. Excellence Award winners, I applaud what you have achieved, from the bottom of my heart.”

Pathways2work was set up in 2004 to support tenants of Family Mosaic into sustainable employment under the wider umbrella of tackling worklessness in London and as part of Family Mosaics commitment to community investment.  The service provides one-to-one advice and guidance sessions, support with CV writing and interview techniques, and a wide range of courses from confidence building to Security Guard training.   Almost 200 people have been helped into employment since the project started and since April 2007 alone pathways2work has helped over 60 people find paid work, and 28 into voluntary positions.

Matrix said of Family Mosaic and pathways2work “A Housing Association that has significantly supported tenants by giving them new options and choices into work and training.  A Particular feature (of pathways2work) was the development of a volunteer placement programme to offer tenants job experience which began as a partnership with its own suppliers and subcontractors to create work experience opportunities.”

Merryn Butler, Head of Community Investment at Family Mosaic said “ pathways2work is an integral part of fulfilling our commitment to investing in communities.  We are pleased that the quality of information, advice and guidance delivered by our Employment Liaison Officers has been recognised in this way and will continue to work hard to support more people into employment.”

Picture, from left to right: Liz Hanchard, Mary McDougall, Carolyn Riley, James Cracknell, Claudette Wilson and Rosie Hewson.

More information can be found on our Pathways2Work page