Project: Pisces West Midlands: Unlocking the potential of people over 50

PISCES WM (Partnerships in Social and Community Enterprise in Schools, Skills for Life, Social Care and Sustainability) launched a project targeting people over the age of 50 who were unemployed in Wolverhampton and the Black Country. At the time of the project launch in October 2009, the number of people in this age group who were out of work in the Black Country had risen by 80 per cent.

The project utilises the expertise and community networks of third sector organisations to deliver training tailored to the needs of the unemployed older person, helping them develop and adapt their skills and supporting them back into work. With over 150 specialist partner organisations available to deliver training and support, the project gives local communities access to wider resources and is able to respond quickly to individual needs. Two-day seminars focusing on core skills development are followed by ongoing information, advice, guidance and subsequent training, as appropriate.

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PISCES WM was established as a community interest company (CIC) in Wolverhampton, a relatively new structure that provides a middle path between a charity and a limited company, for those wanting to do work in, and for, the community. The group works through a network of third sector organisations utilising expertise, local skills and talent to develop training opportunities.

The 'Unlocking the Potential of People over 50' project - is tailored to the needs of the unemployed older person, to hone and develop existing skills and/or to re-skill to adapt to the changing employment landscape.  The project has been designed for a minimum of 144 people who are over 50 years old and unemployed or without work. There will be twelve two-day seminars, delivered in six locations in and around Wolverhampton and the Black Country, followed by ongoing information, advice and guidance (IAG) support. Core content includes confidence building, skills development, CV-writing, and improving literacy levels.

There are nearly 150 nominated partners working within the PISCES Group. This project will be delivered by those with the appropriate expertise to deliver the training required. They include:

• Yoga zone - incorporating meditation and gentle yoga activities to stimulate mind and body
• Black Country Learning Academy - originally established in 2005, BCLA is a training centre offering multiple accreditations including Microsoft IT, Cisco, OCR NVQs, Skills for Life online and IAG surgeries, delivered through community centres, schools and business and support units in the region
• PRIME - Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise (the sister charity to The Prince's Trust) is the only national organisation for those 50+; through a network of partners such as Business Link and enterprise agencies, PRIME focuses on self-employment and giving people more control over their lives, through programmes including careers guidance, mentoring, training (See www.primeinitiative.org or www.primebusinessclub.co.uk)
• Go Eco and Be Healthy - helping the older person incorporate sustainable practices and healthy eating habits into their lives
• Electroville - a social enterprise (50% of workforce is disabled) specialising in delivering IT services to the voluntary sector, led by regional ICT champions, offering remote and on-site technical support, a range of software services and training
• Reggaetivity - putting music into education to make learning more fun, and stimulating growth in the creative industries sector

The success of this grass roots organisational model is attracting interest across the country and the directors have been invited to other areas to help develop the concept in other regions. Some of the foundations of the PISCES model are:

• utilising existing local community networks, working with organisations embedded in the community
• belief that every person, irrespective of age, gender or ability, has something to give, but they may need help in unlocking their potential
• drawing upon consultant organisations with specialist areas of expertise, thereby giving local communities access to wider resources
• quick response team of working directors with minimal systemic bureaucracy
• working across sectors to bring together funding opportunities and stimulate dialogue on addressing opportunities and challenges
• 'never doing anything that someone else is better equipped to achieve'

PISCES WM is a founder member of a consortium of eight major European cities, including Rome, Seville, Prague and Edinburgh, that are looking at the impact of an ageing population on resources, services and employment across Europe. Their first International Workshop was hosted in Wolverhampton in June 2009.

Contact details

John White, Executive Director
The PISCES Group
The EVCAP Centre, John Street, Ettingshall, Wolverhampton , WV2 2LS
(01902) 498734, (07860) 653377
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