1. Worklessness and Enterprise Nancy Radford Chief Executive, Possibility Place
You’ve heard of the tale of two cities—well this is two tales of one place.
There is the tale of Easington the most deprived area in the country and there is the Easington that is picking itself up and changing lives.
Acumen has a model which can be replicated Today I’ll go over some of the activities of Acumen, and raise some questions for you to mull over about regeneration.

2. Worklessness
The economically active - Individuals of working age who are not working but actively seeking employment (e.g. JSA claimant)
The economically inactive – individuals of working age neither working or looking for work (e.g. those on IB, SDA, IS etc.)

3. People The Impact of Worklessness on People Dependency culture
Low skills
Low educational attainment
Poor physical health
Mental health issues
Obesity
Teenage conception rates
Drug and alcohol
Feel like workless=worthless

4. Communities Impact on community Dependence on benefit
Family breakdowns
Grey economy
Antisocial behaviour
Area stigma
Negative views
Generational issues
Breakdown of community

5. How to break the benefit trap

6. Aim to achieve social and economic regeneration through learning enterprise and employment

7. Key Points Building on strengths Community Buy in
Enhance physical environment
Evaluate and improve learning continuously
Tell a different story
As a relative newcomer to Acumen, I can see quite clearly the common themes that have made their programmes so effective
They are…
Acumen takes the REF a step further. Just to review the REF

8. North East Regional Employability Framework
Engagement—Interest the available
Action Planning—Encourage the persuadable
Employability Services—Enable the willing
Job Placement--Place the able
Aftercare—Support the successful

9. EMPLOYABILITY SERVICES Common Reporting, Definitions & Tracking
Acumen Model
Employers
ENGAGEMENT
The available
EMPLOYABILITY SERVICES
The willing
JOB
PLACEMENT
The able
AFTERCARE & RETENTION
The successful
ACTION
PLANNING
The persuadable
One to One
Learning
Community
Engagement
Business
Coaching
Employment
Advisers
People
Acumen
Effective Case Management & Advisory Support
Common Reporting, Definitions & Tracking
Pre
Engagement Activity
Pre-engagement—Find the need and the people
Community events
Engagement—Interest the available
One to one learning, community groups and possibility place
Action Planning—Encourage the persuadable
Possibility Place, Learning etc
Employability Services—Enable the willing
Business Coaching, Employment advisors PP
Job Placement--Place the able
People Acumen, Social enterprises
Aftercare—Support the successful
People Acumen, Social enterprises, Possibility Place

10. Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Wansbeck Initiative
Wansbeck Works! – a network of public, private and voluntary sector partners to help and support local people, with funding support from One NorthEast
Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Wansbeck Initiative

11. Community Engagement
Fun activities Open Days

12. One 2 One Learning

13. Employment Advisers

14. Business Coaching

16. Confidence in self
Emotional Resilience
Independence
Recognition of worth in community (eg Confident Parenting) and ability to contribute
Not just about individual needs but about helping people to “lift up their heads and reach out their hands”

17. Community Transformation

18. Social Enterprise The Green Leaf Cafe

19. Easington Youthbuild

20. The Essence of Acumen Roots in the community Seeing the big picture
Partnerships
Thinking creatively
Taking risks to make solutions work
Joined-up, business-like approach
Making possibilities turn into reality.

21. Changing Communities through People
Some Discussion Points

22. For or With?
“When you cease to make a contribution you begin to die.” Eleanor Roosevelt
Do those who live in the community determine the strategy or is it determined for them?
Who decides what’s needed?
Who owns the programme?
What do residents contribute?

23. Starting Small
“No man made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little.” Edmund Burke
If we don’t get funding, how can we do it?
What is the smallest change that will have the biggest impact?
Lack of money may increase participation

24. Remember Build on the strengths you have
The community needs to buy into the programme
The physical environment matters—even small enhancements can have major impact
Evaluation and continuous improvement vital
Tell a different story—see the potential not the problems

25. And Finally
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
Margaret Mead