Persona are supporting several young people to gain skills and experience as part of the government’s Kickstart Scheme.

The Kickstart Scheme provides on the job experience, training, support and mentoring for 18 to 24 year olds in receipt of universal credit, who were at risk of long term unemployment.

Each placement as part of the scheme is for 6 months and includes tailored training to support job search skills, CV development and interview skills, along with working as part of a team to learn and develop a range of employability skills for future career options.

The opportunities include Care and Support Worker, Admin and Customer Services Assistant and Maintenance Assistant and Domestic Assistant.

Megan Carter, an Admin and Customer Services Assistant, said ‘Everyone is so lovely and caring, I know I’m bringing skills to the team as well as learning them on a day-to-day basis, my confidence is my biggest achievement’.

Listen to what other Kickstarter had to say about their achievements on the scheme so far.

Persona wanted to get involved in the Kickstart Scheme for a number of reasons, including providing opportunities for young people to gain a range of skills and experience working within the social care sector and to learn from young people about what organisations can offer young people who are starting their careers.

Debbie Timmins, one of the placement managers, said ‘I wanted to get involved in the Kickstart Scheme to give young people an opportunity within the social care sector.  It’s not just about front-line roles, there are back-office functions as well.  It’s important to get across that there are so many opportunities within the care industry’.

Persona are looking to offer further opportunities with a second Kickstart recruitment towards the end of summer/early autumn 2021, so keep an eye on our vacancies page or sign up to vacancy updates by email here.*

*Persona cannot accept direct applications, please liaise with your Work Coach on any vacancies that you are interested in.

Photo shows Persona Kickstarter Jenson Worth. 

Formal consultation on the Greater Manchester plan for housing, jobs and the environment has started.

Every household in the borough of Bury is receiving a letter about the Places for Everyone proposals, with details of what it means for their local neighbourhood and how they can view and comment on the plans. The consultation period lasts until 3 October.

Places for Everyone supersedes the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, and aims to identify the amount of new housing, office, industrial and warehousing development needed up to 2037 and the key sites where this will take place.

It will also identify the infrastructure needed to support new development, such as transport, schools and healthcare; identify the important environmental assets which will be protected and enhanced; and define a new green belt boundary for the nine Greater Manchester boroughs taking part in the plan.

Find out more

All the documents are at www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/placesforeveryone.

Further information is also available on the council’s website at www.bury.gov.uk/placesforeveryone. This includes a series of Frequently Asked Questions which highlight the main implications of the plan for Bury.

Alternatively, call the Places for Everyone answerphone service on 0161 253 7800 and someone will return your call.

Hard copies of Places for Everyone will be available for inspection at Bury Town Hall reception; at Ramsbottom, Bury, Radcliffe and Prestwich libraries; and at the Tottington Centre during their normal opening hours.

How to have your say

• Via the online response form at www.gmconsult.org
• Email placesforeveryone@greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk
• Write to: The Planning and Housing Team, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Broadhurst House, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 6EU.

After the consultation period ends, Places for Everyone will be submitted to the Government alongside all supporting evidence and comments made. The Government will then appoint a Planning Inspector to undertake an Examination of the plan.

Two more pop-up vax clinics will be held before the end of August to make it even easier for local residents to get their jabs.

The first is a Pfizer clinic taking place on Sunday 29 Aug at St Gabriel’s Medical Centre in Bishop’s Road, Prestwich M25 0HT. The clinic will be open from 10am to 4pm, and no appointment is needed – just show up.

The second is a Pfizer clinic taking place on Tuesday 31 Aug, when the mobile ‘vax van’ will be located outside Whitefield Fire Station, Bury New Road, Whitefield, M45 7SY from 11am to 3pm.

Both clinics will be offering first doses of the Pfizer vaccine to anyone aged 18 and over who lives, works or studies in the borough of Bury. Second doses will be offered to those who had their first jab eight weeks or more ago.

Young people who are within three months of their 18^th birthday are also welcome – please bring ID to avoid any delays.

There is also a pop-up clinic being held tomorrow (Saturday 21 Aug) outside Radcliffe Market Hall, open from 11am to 3pm.

For the latest list of vaccination clinics across Bury, go to https://www.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15987

From Monday (23 Aug), young people aged 16 and 17 will be offered Covid jabs at the main three clinics in the borough – the Elizabethan Suite in Bury, Ramsbottom Civic Hall and Prestwich Walk-in Centre in Fairfax Road, Prestwich. (NB: Pop-up clinics are for 18+ only).

Advice and support on all matters related to coronavirus can be found on the council’s website: www.bury.gov.uk.