On The Ground Winter 2013

J o i n a G ro u n d w o r k t r a i n i n g c o u r s e

G e t r e a d y f o r w o r k S t a y w a r m a n d

s a v e m o n e y t h i s w i n t e r

I s s u e 9 - W i n t e r 2 0 1 3

I n s i d eJoin a Groundwork training courseWe’ve got plenty on offer in 2013!

Get ready for workUseful advice from Groundwork staff

30th Anniversary CelebrationsEvents leading up to our big birthday

Energy saving tips for the homeStay warm and save money this winter

Come to a Final PresentationListen to Prince’s Trust Team members

Changing Lives - GeorgieOne of many people we’ve helped

We l c o m eWe hope that you will enjoy reading our first issue of 2013. This edition not only gives an update on some of our projects but it also provides some advice and guidance on how to get involved in volunteering and how to get ready for work. There’s a great article on the steps you can take to improve your chances of securing a job.

It’s also good to read about the experiences of local people who have recently been involved in the many opportunities offered and read their personal thoughts on what they have gained and the difference it has made.

2013 is for Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale a special year as we celebrate our 30th Anniversary in October. We have some special

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Groundwork Oldham & RochdaleOn The Ground | Winter 2013

I m a g e sFront: Prince’s Trust Team member on residential

This page: Housing refurbishment trainee

Opposite left: Prince’s Trust Team on residential

Opposite right: Volunteers planting a garden

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events planned to lead up to the Anniversary. Please get in touch if you can share any special experiences of being involved with Groundwork.

Our housing refurbishment programme in Rochdale shows some real innovation. Not only are empty properties improved to provide affordable accommodation for local families, but the programme also gives real life training to

unemployed young people.

So sit back, get comfortable and enjoy your read!

Vicki DevonportExecutive Director

3Groundwork Oldham & RochdaleOn The Ground | Winter 2013

We start the New Year with a full schedule of free training courses and hope that we have something for everyone. From voluntary community courses to skills training to help you find and secure a job, we’re here to help you with your own personal development.

If you’re aged between 16 and 25 and looking to boost your skills, confidence and work experience then team up on a Prince’s Trust personal development course. For those who love the outdoors and want to learn at a local nature site then the Practical Countryside Skills course is just for you.

If you’re looking for a job but need help with your search, improving your CV and getting ready for interview, take part in a 4-day Work Skills course. At our dedicated construction training facility you can learn the basics of plastering, joinery, plumbing, decorating and brickwork on our Building Craft Occupations course.

Whichever course you choose you can be sure that our friendly staff will aim to increase your skills, confidence and personal potential.

This is best summarised by Damien, a recent participant of our Prince’s Trust Team programme: “Groundwork is a place of learning, personal development and training. It helps you to recognise your personal qualities and how to exploit them for success. I would advise anyone who is struggling or unsure of where they are up to in life to let Groundwork put you back on track for a brighter future.”

Find out more about our training in the ‘Groundwork Accredited Courses 2013’ booklet - ask a staff member for a copy or view it online here http://goo.gl/4Swb1

For more information on any of our courses contact John Davies; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

J o i n a G ro u n d w o r k t r a i n i n g c o u r s e i n 2 0 1 3

G e t r e a d y f o r w o r kIt’s a tough job to find work at the moment and many people are finding it difficult to even get an interview. So what can be done to improve your chances of securing employment? The first step is to make sure your CV, cover letters and work experience are up to date and looking good.

How to write a CV

Janet Ratchford is the Team Leader with the Groundwork Skills for Jobs Team in Middleton. The team delivers accredited qualifications in Middleton and Bury and supports residents in the community with finding work. Here’s what Janet has to say on refining your CV:

“Part of what we do on the Employability Skills course is to help people create or improve their CVs. A CV is your advertisement to a prospective employer and can give you a head start in the race for a job. The format should be eye catching, use a consistent font and make sure it is balanced – not too spaced or crowded. Use bold titles rather than underlining.”

“Sell yourself by referring to all your positive skills and qualities but under no circumstances lie! Ensure you have all the relevant contact details on the CV – your date of birth isn’t necessary. Keep the CV quite brief and to the point – never more than two sides. Remember to keep the language formal enough and don’t forget to spell check!”

More CV tips and a CV template can be found on our new Groundwork Blog: http://groundworkor.wordpress.com/


Writing a cover letter

Once your CV is looking good, it’s worth investing the time to write a cover letter. Here, Julia Gough, our Additional Learning Support Coordinator gives us her top 10 hints for writing a cover letter: 1. Always use a computer (unless stated

otherwise), as this looks professional and shows you have some IT skills.

2. Always use black ink as it is professional and easy to photocopy.

3. Always try to find the name of the person you are writing to as this gives your letter the personal touch and ensures it gets to the right person.

4. Use correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and paragraphs.

5. In the first paragraph always ensure you state the job you are applying for, where you saw it and the date it was advertised.

6. In the second paragraph use the skills mentioned in the job advert to sell yourself.

7. End your letter in a positive way.8. If you use Dear Sir/Madam always end with

yours faithfully and if you use Dear name always end with Yours sincerely.

9. Don’t forget to sign your letter.10. Always get someone to read over it and

check for errors before you send it.

Building your experience

Building your recent work experience is a great way to show off your skills, attributes and willingness to work. You may be lacking work history on your CV or you may just want to keep busy whilst you’re searching for work. Taking part in some voluntary work can increase your confidence and be a useful talking point at future interviews.

Tobias Jones, Education and Communities Project Officer, runs Community Action Teams, 10-week training courses centred on community volunteering. Tobias supports teams of people and has seen how voluntary work can raise confidence and open the door to new opportunities.

“Volunteering is a brilliant way to add to your CV and shows employers that you are a proactive individual. Equally, volunteering is an excellent way to explore different avenues of employment if you are wanting to make a career change,” commented Tobias.

“It can provide hands on, practical experience of a variety of roles. At Groundwork we offer a huge variety of volunteering opportunities, from conservation to community work, or landscaping and construction skills, perfect for anyone who is struggling to get back into work or for those who just want to try something new. We also offer accredited qualifications alongside these volunteering roles, further helping to strengthen your CV.”

To find out about our upcoming Employability Skills courses, Work Skills courses or voluntary opportunities please visit the Events & Training page on our website (http://goo.gl/XAgb7).


E n e r g y s a v i n g t i p s f o r t h e h o m eKeeping your home warm and energy bills down is a big challenge for everyone this winter. Groundwork is currently working with Oldham Council to provide energy saving advice to residents of Oldham. We’ll soon we’ll be starting a similar partnership with Rochdale Boroughwide Housing in Smallbridge, Rochdale.

Our team of volunteer advisers complete door to door visits and provide friendly help and support to save residents money. Here are their top tips for saving energy (and money) this winter:

• Deal with draughts – insulate around doors, windows and letter boxes.

• Layer up – wear layers of clothes instead of turning the heating up high.

• Turn off – turn off or unplug all appliances instead of leaving them on standby.

• Be more efficient – replace bulbs and appliances with energy efficient ones.

• Switch provider – register for a Collective Energy Switching scheme.

C e l e b r a t i o n s l e a d i n g t o o u r 3 0 t h A n n i v e r s a r yIn October 2013 we will celebrate our 30th anniversary and we have some exciting events planned leading up to and including our landmark month. In fact we’ve already held events to celebrate two of our longest running programmes.

In November we recognised our Prince’s Trust Team programme and the impact it continues to have on the lives of young people across Middleton, Oldham and Rochdale. Over 3,000 16 to 25 year olds have now completed this life-changing personal development course with many community groups and local organisations also benefitting. Past team members, Team Leaders and staff from the Prince’s Trust spoke heartily about the programme.

December marked another impressive landmark – 2,000 people who have taken part in local projects on our Volunteer Project Assistant (VPA) programme. We held a celebration event at the Groundwork Environment Centre with inspiring speeches from both current and past graduates. We’re now supporting VPA placements in local organisations and are keen to support other companies who wish to provide opportunities to recent graduates.

To read a summary of these events, listen to speeches and find out more about these programmes please visit the News section of our website (www.gwor.org.uk). We would love you to get involved in our future celebrations – find us on Facebook (GroundworkOldhamRochdale) for details, updates and reminders on future events.


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We w a n t y o u r e m p t y h o m e

Our innovative housing programme, delivered in partnership with Rochdale Council and Rochdale Boroughwide Housing, is targeting home owners with empty properties in a bid to increase the level of rentable homes in the borough. We can renovate the house, manage the property for up to 10 years and provide genuine returns for landlords. For more details contact Phil Treaton; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

Yo u r o p p o r t u n i t y t o g a i n p r a c t i c a l o u t d o o r s k i l l s

Learn a range of conservation skills whilst gaining an accredited qualification and helping to improve a local green space. This course teaches about wildlife, habitats and the work involved in managing a nature site. We’ve got 10-week, part-time courses starting on Monday 11th February and Monday 13th May. To join up or find out more details contact Matt Lynwood; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

C o m e t o a F i n a l P re s e n t a t i o n

Discover the life-changing Prince’s Trust Team programme from the perspective of its most recent participants. This year you’re invited to our Prince’s Trust Final Presentations to hear the personal stories from the team members about their own experience over the 13-week programme and how it has benefited them. To book your place contact Jill Eckersley; [email protected] or call 0161 624 1444.

C h a n g i n g L i v e s – G e o r g i e

Changing lives is at the heart of our organisation. Like many people, Georgie came to Groundwork wanting to gain voluntary experience to open the door to employment. Soon after finishing as a Volunteer Project Assistant Georgie successfully applied for a job at Manchester Magistrates Court. Georgie added: “I have had a great experience at Groundwork and I have met some very nice people.” Read more at http://bit.ly/XbNGHK

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale helps people and organisations make changes in order to create better neighbourhoods, to build skills and job prospects, and to live and work in a greener way. We’re a registered charity with 30 years of experience working with partners to deliver successful projects in the Oldham and Rochdale area.

Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale, Environment Centre, Shaw Road, Higginshaw, Oldham OL1 4AW

Charity number: 514726Company number: 01762088

Vicki DevonportExecutive [email protected]

Teresa JenningsOperations Director [email protected]

Claire IgoeSenior [email protected]

Phil TreatonLand & Design Manager [email protected]

Rob GlennWork & Employability Manager [email protected]

John DaviesYouth & Communities Manager [email protected]

On The Ground | Winter 2013

This newsletter was produced in-house at Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale. Thank you to all contributors.

C o n t a c t U sGive us a call - 0161 624 1444

Visit our website - www.gwor.org.uk

Read our Blog - groundworkor.wordpress.com

Connect on Facebook - GroundworkOldhamRochdale

Follow us on Twitter - GroundworkOR

Watch videos on YouTube - GWOR30

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On The Ground Winter 2013

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