ESF Project Successes
At Step Into Learning we have recently completed two European Social Fund (ESF) projects, New Tomorrow and Foundations for Work, supporting unemployed people to build their confidence, motivation or skills to find a path back towards training or employment, whether that was an immediate or much longer term goal. Both of our projects, New Tomorrow and Foundations for Work, were very successful and hit their targets in terms of the number of successful outputs (getting unemployed people back into work or training). The projects supported both the Launceston community (New Tomorrow), and the wider North Cornwall community (Foundations for Work).
See our performance data and client reviews below.
New Tomorrow
Dates of Project: October 2020 to February 2023
Participant Eligibility:
- Be age 15 or above
- Live in one of the eligible areas for support (determind by postcodes) – 70% to live in ‘core’ area in Launceston (Lanstephan & Ridgegrove), 30% to be from wider Launceston area and surrounding parishes
- Be unemployed or inactive
- Have the Right to Work in the UK
Foundations for Work
Dates of Project: August 2021 to December 2023
Participant Eligibility:
- Be age 16 or above
- Be unemployed or inactive
- Have the Right to Work in the UK
- Must live in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly
New Tomorrow Performance vs Targets
Outputs |
From the Grant Funding Agreement |
Actual Outputs Achieved |
| O1 – Number of participants | 42 | 37 |
| CO01 – Participants that are unemployed including long term unemployed | 29 | 22 |
| CO03 – Participants that are inactive | 13 | 14 |
| O4 – Participants that are aged over 50 | 14 | 11 |
| O5 – Participants that are from ethnic minorities | 4 | 2 |
| CO16 – Participants that have disabilities | 4 | 16 |
| CR02 – Participants in education or training on leaving | 6 | 5 |
| R1 – Unemployed participants in employment, including self employment on leaving | 11 | 15 |
| R2 – Inactive participants into employment or job search on leaving | 4 | 4 |
Foundations for Work Performance vs Targets
Individual Partner Targets |
SIL Performance on Project Completion |
| Equal numbers of male (65) and female (65) participants to be signed up to the project | 59 female participants and 58 male participants |
| A total of 54 unemployed participants to be signed up to the project | 66 unemployed participants |
| A total of 76 economically inactive participants to be signed up to the project | 51 economically inactive participants |
| A total of 39 participants age 51+ to be signed up to the project | 34 participants age 51+ |
| A total of 6 participants from ethnic minorities to be signed up to the project | 4 participants from ethnic minorities |
| A total of 12 participants with disabilities to be signed up to the project | 64 participants with disabilities (physical & mental health conditions) |
| A total of 20 participants into education/training | 40 participants into education & training |
| A total of 26 participants into a job within 6 months | 22 participants into a job within 6 months |
| A total of 14 unemployed participants into job | 30 unemployed participants into a job |
| A total of 21 inactive participants into job/job search | 15 inactive participants into a job/job search |
| A total of 21 participants have childcare needs met | 2 childcare needs met. |
Project Quotes
“Since joining the project, I’ve felt a sense of support that I have not experienced before. For this reason, I am very sad to see it go as it has provided me and many others with an essential feeling of community, wellbeing and education. There have been many noticeable changes within myself over this time; my faith in organisations being restored dramatically and my ability to engage with them. Improved confidence when working with professionals and being less afraid to ask for what I need. Feeling able to attend creative classes, courses and workshops and not feeling ashamed of my disabilities. The biggest change of all is probably that I can now picture a future for myself and am considering higher education. So many things which once felt impossible, now feel achievable. Foundations for Work has done so much more for me than I could ever put into words, and even though I am leaving the project without meeting all of my goals (finding a suitable job), it’s helped me to understand my needs better, and take big steps towards it. I also owe a big thanks to my mentor, as her consistent presence and kindness helped carry me through a particularly hard period of my life. Thank you Naomi!”
– Izzy
“The Foundations for Work project has been an amazing asset to us here at Bude library. Naomi came here every week to the library to run sessions – pre-made appointments and drop-ins. It was such a valuable service to our customers and the local community. Naomi worked extremely hard to make the project the success it was. She went over and above to help as many people in as many ways as was possible. Naomi has such a vast knowledge and never turned anyone away …if she couldn’t help she would signpost to organisations or agencies that could.
Until recently our only support with computers was via Naomi, she also in several cases was instrumental in obtaining long loan laptops for clients, there was also organising training, advice, assistance with the household support grants, support with mental health and wellness, signposting to other agencies for example CAP (Christians Against Poverty) for debt advice and support, and much more.
The Wellness Walk that Naomi started still carries on and is appreciated by lots of her previous clients and our customers, who also attend our new Community Coffee mornings.
Naomi was the go-to for many of our customers and is sorely missed. We have people enquiring all the time about the services she provided here. We hope in the future we may be lucky enough to see her return as the library and community benefitted in so many ways.
All that remains to say is a huge thank you to a very special lady for the massive contribution she made, the kindness and support and the hearts that she touched. Thanks Naomi – you have been a very special part of our team!”
– Bude Library
“Positive, hands-on help and encouragement taking myself and my business forward. I know with Suzanne and New Tomorrow I have friends on side with the abilities in business that I struggle with. With New Tomorrow it can only be a better future for me”
– Chris T
“I’m working with Suzanne. She is very helpful and really listens to what you have to say”
– Chris M