Helping build a brighter future for young people
YMCA Norfolk has teamed up with construction firm Lovell and offender resettlement charity MOVEON east to provide employment advisers with useful on-site construction experience to help them in their work.
 Lovell and MOVEON east have been working together on employability workshops for clients who are looking for jobs, as well as offer advice on what else they could do to help find employment and boost their morale. Many of MOVEON east’s clients are ex-offenders, with some referrals coming from YMCA Norfolk.
Lovell, which is currently building the YMCA Norfolk development of 40 new move-on accommodation units at its site on Bethel Street in Norwich, thought it would be a great opportunity for MOVEON east advisors to visit the YMCA site to see the work environment and gain a better understanding of what their clients might experience in construction work.
MOVEON east advisors met with Lovell regional training advisor Shirley Palmer, senior site manager David Betts and assistant site manager Jim Bell.
“We provided them with some background information on Lovell and talked about the project requirements and the works involved in completing it and then toured the site to see works in progress,” said Shirley. “Advisors were able to ask questions about what employers look for in new recruits, what were the best ways into construction and our site staff’s own experiences.”
“We invited MOVEON east’s advisors to visit this exciting new development for YMCA Norfolk to give them an opportunity to see first-hand what a live construction site is like,” said Lovell regional director Steve Coombs. “They were able to talk to our site staff about the training and skills needed so that they had a better understanding of how they could support their clients with sourcing future work opportunities. It was excellent to see everyone enjoying working together on ideas for encouraging new and diverse talent into the construction industry.”
Susanna Heymans, from MOVEON east, said: “Our Employment Advisers had a great time and it has given them a valuable insight into the skills required to work on a construction site. Our clients face numerous barriers finding employment and having the support of employers, such as Lovell, is fundamental in the successful re-settlement of ex-offenders and those at risk of offending.” www.lovell.co.ukwww.moveoneast.org
Pictured are Lovell and MOVEON east colleagues on the site visit to the YMCA Norfolk Bethel Street development in Norwich.
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