Posted 2:30pm
It feels like my last few blog entries have all focused on overcoming a problem. And this one is just the same. After a good few weeks of solid progress, we have have to face some severe difficulties, all caused by outside organisations who should know better.
This morning we were very excited to be working with Barnsbury Job Centre clients. The course had been well promoted by ourselves. We have gone into the job centre and spoken directly at a job coach meeting to all of the staff. We had met with and discussed the project with the overall boss and the disability officers. We had spoken with the staff overseeing the "Legacy"" groups, and even were invited to speak to a couple of the groups. All of which created enthusiasm and questions.
It came to this morning - and nobody came. Absolutely zero. Which we find very difficult to understand. Not a single person was referred by a job coach. Not one!!!! And they saw the last report with the incredible feedback. IIt feels like a general apathy and "who cares?" feeling.
Luke, Dean and I left feeling a bit deflated. I have spoken with the overall DWP Manager for Islington and am seeing him tomorrow morning to see how we can ensure we get numbers for next week
To say I was excited to be working alongside the job centres in Camden and Islington in February and March would be an understatement. I was thrilled. We have prepared heavily, working very hard to expand the sessions, improve the interactive parts, and really bring an amazing unique fresh approach to mental health. It has created wonderful feedback and I know we can continue to do that. The possibilities are huge - especially as we want to branch into corporate and beyond. But we need seed funding and they will only give us that if we provide enough evidence.
It's a challenge. We are again facing it head on. That's three days on the trot where we have had to deal with negativity. Let's hope the rest of the week is better. :-)
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