Rossendale employability project expands with DWP grant

By Active Lancashire

16 May 2019

rossendale-works-members-of-active-lancashire-rossendal-bc-and-dwp-partnership.jpg

Rossendale Works, the Rossendale Council scheme initially set up for a 12-month trial period in partnership with Active Lancashire, was so successful it has been expanded.

Rossendale Works helps people who are job ready to seek placements and employment. Now that work is complemented by Rossendale Futures, which provides a holistic approach to improving participants’ wellbeing by offering free activities.

Rossendale Council chief executive Stuart Sugarman said: “Rossendale Works is a grassroots approach to helping people who are struggling to find employment and it has been hugely successful. 

"As an authority, we saw this as an opportunity to try to help those who were struggling to return to work for a variety of reasons. Those first 12 months were an experiment to see if it worked, but the project far exceeded all the targets and our expectations. 

"By having faith to back Rossendale Works as a trial, the council was able to get the necessary data to show proof of the concept to the Department of Work and Pensions that this scheme works and attract the funding. Now it has expanded and will help even more people.”

The DWP East Lancashire partnership manager Frances Starkie said: “We are looking forward to continuing to work with RBC on what is quite an innovative approach to moving people who require support to address their self-esteem, motivation and social inclusivity into activities and hopefully into work. 

"The barriers can be huge for someone who is not in work and although we have a specialised team at the Jobcentre, it is Active Lancashire’s Paul Becouarn that is the focal point of the success of Rossendale Works. Through the activities on offer Paul is able to break down barriers and misconceptions which can prevent individuals moving forward.”

Paul Becouarn manages the scheme and now has three part-time members of staff to help with delivery, all of whom have come through Active Lancashire’s Challenge through Sport Initiative.

He said: “The success of Rossendale Works has caused a great deal of interest from other boroughs across Lancashire and I have been asked to speak to many other areas who want to follow Rossendale’s lead.  It is exciting to see the developments but there will also be challenges because this project has to be properly managed.”

In the first 12 months, Rossendale Works helped 80 people into activities, 27 into employment, 32 into placements. Many more were also engaged in community activities.

In Bacup Paul has already introduced chill and chat sessions at Shenkido Yoga, in Market Street, on Wednesdays from 1-3pm, boxing and snooker at the A, B and D Centre on Burnley Road, on Fridays from 11-noon and is in negotiation with Pioneer Community Health Studio about multi-weights sessions.

He said the new scheme would lead to a more personalised approach and more one-to-one work with clients. We would be pleased to speak to local employers who are looking to recruit and able to offer 4 week trial placement opportunities.

Active Lancashire chief executive Adrian Leather said: “We are proud of the joint work and partnership which has been forged through the Rossendale Futures project; lives are being improved by getting people active and back into employment. We recognise the difference that committed staff make to this challenging work and are grateful that the project’s success has been recognised with additional investment.”

Companies wanting to know more about how they can support Rossendale Works by providing work experience or training opportunities should contact [email protected] or call Active Lancashire on 01772 299830.

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin