A new work club has been launched to kick off a new campaign to improve the lives of all who live and work in Barnet’s Burnt Oak ward.
The work club has been introduced by social landlord Barnet Homes, working with a range of partners, to offer people support and guidance on finding long-term employment.
Burnt Oak has the highest proportion of working age people on an out of work benefit in Barnet at 15.4% and the highest number of people aged 18 to 24 claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.
The introduction of the club is one of the first actions in a new Love Burnt Oak campaign being launched by Barnet Homes with partners ranging from Barnet Council and the local Safer Neighbourhood Team to the North Road Community Association and theInternationalGospelChurch.
Other initial projects include a Next Step coaching programme, led by Barnet Homes, to give Burnt Oak residents one-to-one support on issues ranging from financial advice and lack of confidence, along with an online learning facility for Burnt Oak residents thanks to support from UK Online. A range of other initiatives are expected to be introduced with the support of partners.
The campaign aims to turn around the fortunes of the ward, which includes the Watling Estate – created as part of a ‘Homes fit for Heroes’ programme to offer good quality housing for veterans of the First World War.
Burnt Oak ward has:
- average income 26.6% below the Barnet borough median
- 39.5% of children defined as living in poverty
- 46% of residents with no or low qualifications
- a seven year lower life expectancy for men than in Hampstead Garden Suburb
Barnet Homes Chief Executive, Tracey Lees, said: “We’ve been wanting to carry out a very targeted campaign in Burnt Oak for some time. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to enlist the support of so many different organisations and local groups for the Love Burnt Oak campaign.
“There’s little doubt that the government’s welfare reforms are going to impact on more people in Burnt Oak than any other borough in Barnet. It’s important we do all we can now to support people back into work through initiatives like the Work Club, so that they can continue to make ends meet.
“We’ll continue to work hard to support the people we serve – in Burnt Oak and elsewhere – with training opportunities, apprenticeships and financial support through our ongoing ‘Feeling the squeeze?’ campaign.”
The Work Club is meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 9.30am to 11.30am at Burnt Oak Resource Centre,102 Watling Avenue, Edgware HA8 0LN.
Attendees will be able to share experiences of efforts to find employment and receive advice on everything from CV writing to interview skills. People wanting more information can email loveburntoak@gmail.com.
Ongoing information about the Love Burnt Oak campaign can be found on Facebook and Twitter.
Partners involved include:
- Barnet Homes
- Barnet Council
- InternationalGospelChurch
- Barnet andSouthgateCollege
- Barnfield Children’s Centre
- Edgware Job Centre Plus
- Burnt Oak Christian Fellowship
- Burnt Oak Safer Neighbourhood Team
- North RoadCommunity Association