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Join ClinksOpportunities Workshop was established in July 2012 in response to a lack of provision for NEETs and young ex-offenders in the East of England.
Since then OppWorks has swiftly gained a reputation for engaging with the hardest to reach youths in the Ipswich area by empowering young people to take ownership of the choices they make and supporting them into sustainable employment.
OppWorks currently delivers programmes that provide life skills, employability skills and occupational skills in either construction trades or customer services – with increased support for those furthest from the labour market such as young offenders.
All OppWorks programmes are underpinned by extensive preparation for work and extensive job finding support which has led to results that are significantly higher than the industry norm.
Since then OppWorks has swiftly gained a reputation for engaging with the hardest to reach youths in the Ipswich area by empowering young people to take ownership of the choices they make and supporting them into sustainable employment.
OppWorks currently delivers programmes that provide life skills, employability skills and occupational skills in either construction trades or customer services – with increased support for those furthest from the labour market such as young offenders.
All OppWorks programmes are underpinned by extensive preparation for work and extensive job finding support which has led to results that are significantly higher than the industry norm.
Contact
Address
12 Northgate Street
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 3DB
United Kingdom
Help Line No.
01473 857 140
Work Tel. No.
01473 857 140
In Brief
Primary Field of Work
Education
Custody or Community
Community
No. of service users
50
No. of Paid Staff
10
No. of Volunteers
2
No. of peer mentors
0
Organisation type
Social enterprise
Legal status
Community Interest Company
Year of Formation
2012
Contract History
Supporting information
To date, OppWorks has supported 200 disadvantaged NEETs many of which have histories of offending behaviour and/or additional learning needs.
OppWorks is achieving sustainable jobs for 53% of learners, and 94% of non-mandatory learners are completing their four week learning programmes and achieving a qualification.
OppWorks has developed effective links with 20 statutory organisations and community groups in the communities where we work. Examples include integration of OppWorks pre-employment provision in Suffolk County Councils ‘Troubled Families’ programme and stadium maintenance work placements at Ipswich Town Football Club.
OppWorks is achieving sustainable jobs for 53% of learners, and 94% of non-mandatory learners are completing their four week learning programmes and achieving a qualification.
OppWorks has developed effective links with 20 statutory organisations and community groups in the communities where we work. Examples include integration of OppWorks pre-employment provision in Suffolk County Councils ‘Troubled Families’ programme and stadium maintenance work placements at Ipswich Town Football Club.
Partner organisations
Catch 22
Youth Offending Service
YMCA Housing
Jobcentre Plus
Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
Ipswich Town Football Club
Youth Contract - TCHC
Suffolk County Council - Integrated Youth Service
Regions
East
Essex
Braintree
Brentwood
Chelmsford
Colchester
Harlow
Maldon
Tendring
Uttlesford
Hertfordshire
Broxbourne
Dacorum
Hertsmere
St Albans
Southend-on-Sea UA
Suffolk
Babergh
Forest Heath
Ipswich
Mid Suffolk
St Edmundsbury
Suffolk Coastal
Waveney
London
Inner London
City of London
Kensington and Chelsea
Southwark
Tower Hamlets
Westminster
South East
Brighton and Hove UA
East Sussex
Kent
Medway UA
Portsmouth UA
Southampton UA
Surrey
West Sussex
Area covered
1 or more regions
Fields of Work
Education
Employment
Finance, benefits & debt
Mentoring & befriending
Personal development
Lived experience involvement
Training
Volunteering
People you work with
Racially minoritised people
Men
People on a short sentence
Women
Young people