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Aspiring to Keep Jobs
LIVERPOOL'S recent jobs boom has seen thousands more people
in the city find work. However, many of these people find it
difficult to keep their jobs for a variety of reasons - ranging from
difficulties with motivation and self-esteem to practical problems
over such issues as childcare.
Now a scheme aimed at helping people retain jobs by providing them
with the support and advice they need is set to be officially
launched. The ASPIRE programme, funded through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund,
has been set up to deal with the problems of high labour turnover.
Research shows that while 23,000 jobs have been created in the city
since 2000 many people who find work leave their jobs within 6
months. An indication of this effect was that in December 2005,
2,455 joined the unemployment register while 2,090 left.
ASPIRE is the brainchild of the Liverpool Strategic Employment
Partnership Group and is currently delivered by Retention and
Progression Officers in local neighbourhoods. A package of support
is available including:-
· On-going advice and support - on issues such as training needs,
personal matters, transport of childcare.
· Benefits Advice - to ensure the employee is aware of changes to
his or her benefits entitlement and what support is available after
entering employment.
· Work mentors and buddies - In partnership with Weston Spirit Training,
a mentoring toolkit has been produced for employers.
ASPIRE has operated as a pilot project for the last years and has
already assisted over 200 people in employment.
The project will be formally launched on Wednesday 25 January at an event
at the Empire Theatre when employers will be given the opportunity
to find out more about the service.
Guest speakers are Alan Walker, Chair of the Merseyside Employers
Coalition and Sylvia Pearson of Weston Spirit. There will also be
people who have benefited from Aspire present.
Mr Walker said:- "The Aspire programme has obvious benefits
for employees, enabling more people to enjoy the economic and social
benefits of sustainable employment and progression. But equally it
helps employers to stabilize their workforces, reduce labour
turnover and its associated costs, and enables them to be more
confident that investment in workforce development will be
worthwhile." |
Liverpool's Lasting Attraction For The 'Mersey Beat Generation'
THE 20-somethings of the swinging 60s are now over 60 themselves and
Liverpool still holds a special magnetism for the 'Mersey Beat'
generation. Liverpool was one of the top 5 destinations of 2005 for
Senior Railcard holders, with over 95,000 visits by train to the
city..
The top 3 attractions for Senior Railcard holders looking to revisit
the Liverpool Sound of the 60s were:-
Cavern Club's Magical Mystery Tour - to follow the lives of The
Beatles, seeing where they were born, brought up and went to school
as well as famous landmarks immortalised in their hits including
Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields. The tour ends at the famous Cavern
Club which not only launched the career of the Beatles but also
other great bands of the Mersey Beat rock and roll sound, including
Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Searchers and Swinging Blue Jeans.
The Casbah Coffee Club - established by Mona Best in 1959, the
mother of the original drummer of The Quarrymen, Pete Best, the Casbah should really be recognised as where it all began, even
before Hamburg and the Cavern Club days. The Casbah remains in its
original form in the cellars underneath the Best family home and is
probably the only original Beatle venue in Liverpool to remain
unchanged, featuring ceilings painted by John Lennon, George
Harrison, Paul McCartney and Pete Best.
The Matthew Street Gallery - Liverpool has produced more
chart-topping No 1 artists and bands than any other city in the UK
and the successes of each and every one is celebrated in a unique 'Wall
of Fame' montage of golden discs recalling more than 50 years'
contribution to world music. The gallery also specialises in the art
of John Lennon and has more than 50 limited edition prints on
display and for sale.
With so many famous attractions so close together, Liverpool makes a
great destination for a day trip by train and Senior Railcard is the
'Ticket to Ride' for less.
This offer is available to anyone aged 60 or
over, a Senior Railcard costs just £20 per person for a year and
saves you 1/3 on most rail fares throughout Britain.
Senior
Railcards can be obtained from all staffed station ticket offices or
by calling National Rail Enquiries on 08457 484950 for the telesales
number of your nearest train company. Further information is also
available online at
www.senior-railcard.co.uk.
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