Sunday 14th July 2019 - Job Centre meetings

Posted 12:15pm

I am staggered to discover I have not made a blog entry this week. I can only put that down to a very busy schedule and getting on with other jobs.

So I will be making at least two entries today - possibly three.

This one focuses on a couple of cracking meetings I had this week with DWP representatives.

Following our taster with Peabody on the 26 June - we managed to obtain meetings with the DWP Borough Relationship Managers for two areas - first one being Haringey, the second being Hackney, Tower Hamlets and City of London.

Tuesday we met with Haringey - which involved Phyllis (the DWP BRM) and someone from their Disability service - which covers both physical and mental health. We already knew that finance is an issue, but we were anxious to meet face to face and discuss how these challenges can be overcome. It was great we had already done a taster with the Haringey Well-Being Service, and knew the manager Pritty Rana - who is fabulous, and also likes us.  I am dropping them some more information this afternoon - following this entry. I also mentioned the lottery bid, and that it would be win win for us all if we got the funding as then we can work with their service users for at least a year.

Thursday we met with Hackney, Tower Hamlets and City of London - this was Stephen (the DWP BRM) and Samantha from their disability service. They were very forthcoming and we discussed the Dynamic Purchasing System for Job Centres (which we are keen to get on) and other funding streams.

We do have an incredible opportunity though. On the 25th of this month they have a meeting of the disability staff for the areas, and we have been invited to do a 30-40 minute presentation of our program. This really is a chance to show what we can do - and would mean we stick in their minds when it comes to that delivery.  Not only that, if that goes well, we have been told that there is a big London meeting in September, and we could get an invite to that. Wow!!!!

Doors are opening for us. We need to grab this with both hands. I have called a meeting with Luke and Dean, to be arranged, and we will bang out a terrific action plan. The guys are vital for this success - I hope they will put 100% effort into it.