Employment and Training

Unemployment in the area is a concern, and the Forum is responding by supporting local people into jobs. This work is barely scratching the surface, as the lack of a job can mask a host of other issues. Working with people on an individual basis with a holistic approach is bringing success, from providing information about training to helping with interview techniques.
Many local jobs are not particularly well paid, making it hard for people to move into or stay in the area due to relatively high housing costs.
Action: The Forum is committed to working with unemployed residents to enable them to find jobs, gain skills for a new job through paid or unpaid work, and to deliver advice and support sessions from venues in the area.

Business

Business goes about its daily life throughout our area, from the corner shop to ZF Gears. The former does business in an ever-shrinking market and in the summer months, when most students have gone home, many of these businesses do well to keep going. New shops bring welcome employment to the area, but a side effect may well be that other businesses suffer and close down. The lack of good local shops selling fresh vegetables, bread and meat has been mentioned by many local people.
Action: The Forum would like to support local traders by promoting ‘shopping at your local’ or by setting up a traders’ association. The Forum would also like to encourage larger businesses to be involved in the economic regeneration of the area.

Friar Tuck Credit Union

The area has had a Credit Union for many years and as a local community bank it is very worthy of support from the Forum. For some people, being able to save small amounts is very important, and for others it is the first savings account of any nature.Action: The Forum would like to support the Credit Union and encourage more local people and others working in the area to save. On another level, work to change the perception of credit unions as the ‘poor person’s bank’ needs to be addressed locally and city-wide.