Posted 1:15pm
Lazza has been working very hard and it appears our nine days of intervention in Islington are close to being organised. We just need to ensure good numbers. The funding has come through from Islington Giving, managed by Cripplegate. We are anxious to really prove what we can do.
Two of the days are with Peabody. The days are sorted - we have one in January and one in February, both on the Whitecross Estate in Islington - near to Old Street. I have to say they have not exactly been promoting us. We asked if we should flyer, but they said they would do a posting - which they did just after the new year apparently. We also asked if there were groups we could meet and chat to, but that has not happened either. I am not confident of good numbers at the moment, but may use it as a tool to invite others along to see us.
The other seven in Islington are split. Six are with the job centres, so we are doing two three session courses with each of them - Barnsbury Job Centre and Finsbury Park Job Centre.
The Finsbury Park JC one is now going to be held at the offices of Better Lives in Seven Sisters Road, close to Hornsey Road. I am absolutely delighted that they have allowed us to use their premises. This will be on the first three Wednesdays in February. In return, on the last Wednesday we will be doing a one-off two hour session with their clients, which should be a lot of fun, and possibly open other doors too.
We met with a terrific guy called Barney, who has been incredibly helpful in getting all this arranged.
The Barnsbury JC course is going to be held at the offices of Voluntary Action Islington in Pentonville Road, just up from Kings Cross. They have known us for a while and will be on three of the Wednesdays in March. It is a great space, but we have to pay a fee, which we had not calculated for in our funding application. But I know we will be able to cover things.
All we need now are the participants. With that in mind, we have organised to meet with the DWP Disability officers, and the DWP Borough Manager for Islington, next week at Barnsbury Job Centre. I have no problem going to a job centre and meeting people, and we can always get some flyers printed too. I am confident, as they are both three session courses (therefore over 15 days), we can secure a good number.
It has taken a bit of negotiating, several meetings, and a touch of stress, but staying confident and proactive has been key.
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