Unemployed residents finding work thanks to Council Jobs Club

The Trafford Council Job Club, launched across the borough in September 2023, support local residents with finding employment, apprenticeships, training and volunteering opportunities.

So far, seven Job Clubs have been set up across Trafford and they have supported 341 residents, of which at least 22 have found employment.

The clubs provide residents with: Support in searching and applying for jobs; accessing job opportunities across Trafford and beyond; finding and applying for apprenticeships; CV writing; preparing for interviews, job applications and cover letters; using social media to help find work; training and education opportunities and information on digital support. The job clubs have also supported people into volunteering roles as well as supporting those who are distant from the job market with developing skills and confidence to help them move closer to employment.

Marie Green, from Old Trafford, attended the Jobs Club at the St John’s Centre in Old Trafford and was full of praise for the support she received. 

She said: 

“I was first introduced to Alan Bennett from the Job Club who reassured me that finding a job is possible. 

"Alan helped me to understand how to produce and update a CV and introduced me to the job apps. They were very helpful, but sometimes it got too complicated for me. Alan was patient and guided me on how to apply for jobs, the applications and how to write cover letters.

“I applied for jobs and received many interviews – which gave me confidence. So now I can say, through the continuous support from Alan and the Job Club, I am working as a catering assistant in a Community Café in Manchester. Thank you so much.”

Gillian Royle, from Timperley, attended the Job Club at the community centre in Broomwood back in February.

 She said: 

“I attended the job club to get support with my CV. I wasn’t sure how to do the CV and Alan helped me create this. I was in my last job for eight years so it had been a while since I have had to look for a job and previously I always had something else lined up. Alan gave me information on which websites to look at and this is where I found my new job as a cleaner at a local school. Thank you!”

Mandy Brookes, from Partington, attended the Job Club at Urmston Library and YHG Partington. 

She said: 

“The first thing Alan did was ask for a copy of my CV so that he could update it. Before long I started to have many recruiters ringing me, they had been suitably impressed with my CV!

“However, none of the hours for the jobs they were advising me of were right for me. I would like to thank the Trafford Job Club for giving me back my confidence and always being only an email away. I would definitely encourage people to use Alan’s job club and can’t thank this important and invaluable service enough.”

Girda Hartley, from Stretford, said:

“I attended the job club in Stretford library to get a job. I was told about the support available and I had been out of work for nine weeks. My friend told me that the job club were running a recruitment day for NHS nursing assistants and I attended this and was given an interview less than a week later. I found out that day I have been offered the job! Thank you for all your help.”

Louise Brogan-Shaw, from Stretford, also got a job in the NHS after attending the Job Club. 

She said: 

“I got help with looking for jobs and Maureen the volunteer supported me with using other job search websites. Alan helped me develop my CV and I also got advice on how to make specific cover letters for jobs I applied for. I also got advice on how to prepare for interviews. I feel like I would still be going around in circles if it wasn’t for the support I received from the job club. In total I attended the job clubs for around six weeks before getting a job and I have found a job I am really excited about starting.”

The clubs run on a weekly basis at the following locations and residents can drop in at any time during the allocated time slots:

Monday 1pm – 3pm: Broomwood Community Centre, Mainwood Road, Timperley WA15 7JF
Tuesday 10am – 12pm: Stretford Library, Bennett Street, Stretford M32 8AP
Tuesday 1pm – 3pm: Urmston Library, 34 Golden Way, Urmston M41 0NA
Wednesday 10am – 12pm: Sale West Community Centre, Newbury Avenue, Sale M33 4QH
Wednesday 1pm – 3pm: Your Housing Group Partington, 95 Wood Lane, M31 4LW
Thursday 10am – 12pm: St Johns Centre, St John's Road, Old Trafford, Stretford M16 7GX
Thursday 1pm – 3pm: Sale Library, Sale Waterside, Tatton Road, Sale M33 7ZF

Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said: 

“We are delighted with the work of the Trafford Job Clubs – it is a fabulous initiative. It’s great to see how the Club is helping so many people find employment in these difficult times.

“The Council is committed to helping as many residents as possible find employment and the clubs are doing just that. We have also made supporting people out of poverty a corporate priority and the clubs also supports this commitment.”

For further information on the support available contact us on employment@trafford.gov.uk or call 07977 717239.