By Donna Clifford

Copyright grimsbytelegraph

A new Careers Café has opened in Grimsby’s Freshney Place. It is a joint venture between North East Lincolnshire Council’s Adult Careers Service and Taking Action Raising Grimsby’s Emerging Talents (TARGET NEL CIC). The space has been transformed by GMI Construction group with a goal to bring career support directly into the town centre, making it easier for people to drop in and get the help they need. Now open, the café will host TARGET NEL’s training sessions alongside free drop-in sessions from the Adults Careers Team. Wendy Trask is the Operations Manager for Employability at North East Lincolnshire Council , and runs the Adult Career Services. She said: “People who want careers advice or anything to do with employment, skills, training, courses, can come and access help really easily. “Historically people have only been able to get this help and support through the Job Centre, so if anyone is working part time or full time and they want a change of career, by having this in the shopping centre it gives people easier access so hopefully everybody and anybody can come and get advice.” She added: “For careers advice we can do everything from CVs, applying for work, applying for jobs, searching for jobs, things like that which we can help and support with. We also have a lot of partners that are coming in, Franklin College, The Wellbeing Service from the Council, Parent Carer Forum, Young People Support Service (YPSS), they’re all coming in on regular slots on regular days so we can refer to the specialists we have available.” Sonya Rowbotham, SEND support worker spoke of her journey and how she is available in the Café: “In January I did the Train to Employ, I fine tuned the skills I already had with some extra qualifications, I had some mental health issues, my confidence was not the best, but coming over to Target to then doing Train to Employ and now being employed as a SEND support worker has given me so much confidence, and I’m now doing a children’s and young person’s mental health course because I’m passionate about the mental health side. “I do (EOTIS) Education Other Than In School, I do 1-2-1, 1-2-2 or 1-2-3 with children at Target, so we do project based learning, for some children it’s a fun way to learn. Then here is the Train To Employ as well as the Café, it’s going to be a much needed thing for the town, to help boost confidence. “I didn’t think I would be able to do the job I do today as effectively as I am now due to my mental health. However, I was proved wrong. “With a bit of nurture and a bit of help, your confidence can boost and you can change your career anytime you want. I was a carer for two children with different disabilities for 26 years – coming back into work is a very positive thing for me to do, I love it and I love helping people who are very similar to my own children, that just need a little bit of help and a little bit of nurture to get the education they deserve.” Billy Maddison, SEND supporter explained his role. “I went through a 12-week train to employ programme, which is helpful,” he said. At the end of that, employment is put in place and I now work with young people with Educational Healthcare plans.” The Drop-In Space offers a range of courses to assist gaining employment, up-to-date careers information from local employers, personalised guidance for your career journey and holistic support to overcome barriers. The Café is open Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm and Friday 9am-2pm and open to all, whether looking for work, exploring new paths or needing direction.