Our Volunteer and Meaningful Activities Manager, Shanice, is running a series of employment workshops to help Cambridge Cyrenians residents achieve their employment goals.

The group will be covering different skills and concerns around re-entering the world of work: building and refreshing CVs, dealing with employment gaps, managing working rents and searching for jobs.

Shanice has worked in homelessness services for eight years, four of which have been with Cambridge Cyrenians as Volunteer and Meaningful Activities Manager. Shanice works closely with residents to increase their skills, confidence, and experience through education, training, and voluntary work. The Meaningful Activities Project helps residents to become more employable and move away from homelessness permanently.

A place for discussion

Shanice says that the workshops provide a space to explore employment alongside others who are also hoping to move into work in the future: “it’s an opportunity for residents to take stock of their achievements so they can best present these to prospective employers.”

“Some residents are nervous to discuss concerns about re-entering work in settings like Job Centres in fear there may be consequences for their benefits. My hope is that our residents can use the workshops as a forum to raise their concerns and receive information they need to best prepare them for the workplace.”

Increasing confidence

The workshops are informal and flexible, and residents are welcome to join whatever their level of experience or stage of the job-seeking process. Shanice says “The content of the sessions will be responsive to the needs of those in the room. For example, if nobody has a up-to-date CV when they arrive, that week we’ll focus on polishing and creating new ones.”

“I hope that those attending the workshop will feel more confident in seeking out work and become more aware of the things that they bring to the table too.”

The workshops are exclusive to current Cambridge Cyrenians residents and participants can join in at any time in the series. For more information speak to your Project Worker or contact Shanice.