The programme, set up by Octavia Housing & Care, offered training to 12 residents between the ages of 19 and 45. Octavia identified that many of their tenants wanted to return to work but lacked the confidence or means to train.
The programme offered NVQ training with an accredited training provider, and offered free childcare places to allow those with young children to complete the course.
Cecil Richards, Octavia's community development and tenant involvement manager, said, 'The programme targets tenants who want to return to work but who are unsure of their skills. Many people in the borough of Kensington and Chelsea are lone parents and are trapped at home due to their own childcare needs.'
Crucially, the programme meant people could train with an accredited provider without attending a further education establishment. Mr Richards said, 'Many tenants finished education at a young age following negative experiences. They had lost confidence in themselves and the education process, and the pros- pect of attending a higher education establishment to obtain a vocational qualification was very scary. The course is exactly the same as any other NVQ in childcare - we have just made it as informal as possible for people to gain a qualification.'
The programme has been an enormous success, with a third of the tenants who completed the course now aiming to work towards a level 3 qualification.
'It has opened up their eyes to what they can achieve and shown they can make their own career choices,' said Mr Richards.
One tenant, Annemarie Alexander, has secured a job as a nursery nurse at Illys Brooker Under Fives nursery in North Kensington. She said, 'I had to give up work when my son, who's now three years old, was born. Octavia provided me with a creche place, so I was able to train without worrying about childcare.
'I'm really pleased with myself for doing the course and, at the end, actually getting a job. I'm now going to work towards my level 3 and then I hope to do my diploma in childcare.'
Another training programme is planned for this year, and the number of places has been expanded to 15. The training programme was financed by Octavia Housing & Care, with additional funding from Westminster EYDCP, Sure Start Queens Park, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Campden Charities and the Friends of St Marylebone Housing Association.