Community Ventures Development Services C.I.C offered an opportunity for community members to gain knowledge on how to gain employment, access training courses, and to learn new skills. 

Our service users were provided with support and guidance and here is the impact our work and approaches had on one of our service users.

At the start of the project I was not sure what help I could get, as for over two years I have been on Employment Support Allowance

 

The project helped me to understand what I wanted and what I enjoyed. I have been in the UK for 8 years, in my home country I worked in a bakery which I enjoyed. I make birthday cakes for family and friends.

 

We started looking at options of setting up my own home cake baking company. Kam went through what was required to set up as a self-employed, what was required by council and look at what training courses I had to undertake.

 

Both I, Kam and Jelena (Interpreter) looked at guides on HMRC and other online courses about setting up a home baking company.

 

Set up as self-employed, completed my Food Hygiene Certificate and created a Facebook page to help with advertising.

 

I have already set up myself as self-employed, got approval from council to run a cake business from home.

 

The project was very good for me, I am earning an income and working hours that suit me and help me with my illness.

As a team we are delighted with the impact that we were able to have with this project, this story is one of a number that we could have celebrated and shared with you.

The project was commissioned by The European Union Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency.

Our intention is to build on the momentum created and we have extending our service to West Bromwich and have set up a new office. You can find us at:-

Room 3, Wood Lane Community Centre,

157 Wood Lane,

West Bromwich,

B70 9PT