Rossendale Works health and wellbeing event helps residents into employment

An employability event focusing on health and wellbeing run by Rossendale Works - an employability programme run in partnership by Rossendale Council, Active Lancashire and The Department of Work and Pensions has been hailed a huge success. 

Up to 20 different organisations were on hand to share information on physical and mental health, grassroots projects and local activities. Organisations at the event ranged from The Lancashire Quit Squad, North Lancashire Training Group and Lancashire Women. 

Lancashire and South Cumbria’s Health, Advice, Recovery, Resilience, and Information (HARRI) Bus was also there to give health checks and advice. 

Coun Barbara Ashworth, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, said: “It was great to see health partners and businesses at the event to support the initiatives we are trying to put in place to overcome health barriers that people may face when trying to get into employment. 

“The council have recently developed a Health and Wellbeing plan and the event was a huge success in helping people who are struggling to find out about what options they have. We want to help individuals become in control of their own destiny. 

"Events like this emphasise good partnership working, and the amazing work Rossendale Works continues to achieve.” 

Rossendale Works helps people seek placements and employment whilst also improving participants’ wellbeing by offering free activities. Councillor Ashworth thanked all partners involved including Active Lancashire and the DWP. 

Paul Becouarn, Rossendale Works project officer from Active Lancashire said “Rossendale has a great health and wellbeing strategy and great leaders to pull communities together. We are proud of Rossendale Works delivery over last 4 years and this event was another opportunity for people to improve their life chances. 

“Organisations at the event came together and tailored the right provision for those who attended. A massive thank you to all of those involved.” 

Past Rossendale Works candidate, Toni Wells, 23, from Whitworth, attended the event. She said: “Rossendale Works gave me so much confidence, it helped me get away from a dysfunctional relationship, I learnt how to ride a bike, engaged in sporting activities and I am now in full time work as a residential worker. 

“I am so grateful for all of the support I have received. I can now see Rossendale is a beautiful place again which takes me back to my childhood memories. I brought along friends to the event so that they could also get support.” 

Another past candidate also attended to support people with similar barriers to his own. Rossendale Works had previously secured him with a self-employed business adviser to design a business plan for him. He is now full-time self-employed and is a poet. 

If businesses would like more information about the Rossendale Works programme they should contact Paul Becouran - pbecouarn@activelancashire.org.uk

Photo caption l to r: Cllr Barbara Ashworth, Adam Allen Director of Communities, Lucy Ashworth Rawtenstall DWP, Debbie Albanese Quigley Senior Manager DWP, Paul Becouarn Rossendale Works Project Lead