A project designed to combat unemployment has successfully helped 12 people to find work.

The Full Steam Ahead project, based in the Charles Burrell Centre in Thetford, began earlier this year.

It has seen 12 out of 36 interviewees complete the full course, with 11 now employed and one beginning an apprenticeship at the centre.

Participants have gone on to work in the security industry, care homes, opticians, a cafe, manufacturing, retail, a legal company and schools.

Many came to the project after becoming unemployed due to redundancy, poor health or domestic responsibilities.

Supported by the European Social Fund alongside Breckland Council, staff work one to one with individuals looking for jobs and offer training, work experience and support with CV writing and interview skills.

A spokesman for the project said: “The majority of participants have completed work experience at Charles Burrell Centre and this has enabled them to increase in confidence and to gain further skills.

“On site work experience has included maintenance, gardening, housekeeping and assisting in the café.

“One of our current participants has attended a Construction Skills Certification Scheme course this month, another has attended an Excel course whilst another will be attending a business admin course.

We are also providing Fire Marshal training courses in November for participants.”

Alongside work experience, five people have completed an Emergency First at Work course provided by West Suffolk College, with three of them entering employment, two in a care home and one in a school canteen.

Many project attendees are referred to the project by Thetford Job Centre, along with referrals from the project’s Facebook page and the Citizens Advice Bureau.

Full Steam Ahead was launched in May this year following £43,000 of funding from Local Investment in Future Talent and aims to support 80 individuals over the next two years, with ten people currently enrolled on the scheme.

For more information on the project please call Charles Burrell Centre on 01842 779867 or email volunteering@charlesburrellcentre.org.uk.

Do you have a story for the Thetford and Brandon Times? Let us know by e-mailing conor.matchett@archant.co.uk with the details.