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 Women’s Capability Initiative

Started in 2008, the Women’s Capability Initiative (WCI) programme is funded by Trust for London and The Rank Foundation. In September 2010 the programme completed its second year of delivery. Over the last two years the WCI programme has engaged and supported 120 BME women, primarily from the Bangladeshi, Somali and Turkish communities, who had English language and employability needs to become job ready. It seeks to develop their existing skills, and enable them to gain new skills and knowledge to move into, or towards employment.

WCI Certificate Day groupOver the two years women on the programme have benefited through:

  • Improved language/communication skills
  • Increases in self confidence and self esteem
  • Increased knowledge of work and employability skills
  • Taking part in work tasters/placement and voluntary work
  • Some women gained employment
  • Increased civic involvement and access to services that would improve their health and wellbeing
  • Increased take-up of further studies/training.

The programme uses an innovative, holistic model of support embedded in English language classes. Learners gain access to both group and 1-2-1 employability support, life coaching, health and wellbeing assistance, welfare and benefits advice, and role models who have moved into work.

Most of the women on the programme have never worked before, and many face significant barriers to working, even when they are motivated to do so. To date, WCI has helped 12 women to move into work and 36 to complete practical work experience. The year two evaluation showed that 79% of participants increased their perceived job skills and 98% of participants’ confidence increased. The number of women taking some action to seek work increased in both years; in 2009/10 from fewer than 5% to 58%. The wider impact of the programme has also been fantastic:

‘My son was happy that I was doing the work experience. He said he was very proud.’ (WCI participant).

The project will help another 90 women by September 2012 and develop new “ESOL for Work” resources that will teach the specific vocabulary people need to work in the UK. Sincere thanks to Trust for London and The Rank Foundation for making the WCI project possible.

For more information about WCI, please contact:
Rujie Nessa, Project Manager (part-time) rujie@bbbc.org.uk