This summer, Frome Job Club, with financial support from housing association Aster Communities, is taking a break from lap tops and form filling to help make a difference to their local community.
On 30th July and 6th August Frome Job Club members will be out and about with The Friends of The River Frome clearing the invasive weed, Himalayan Balsam, from Frome’s river banks.
These sessions are first and foremost for Job Club attendees, however, if you are interested in coming along, please contact Dorothy-Anne Bryant on 01373 300583. You will be provided with the necessary protective clothing however, please also dress appropriately e.g. long trousers. The sessions start promptly at 10.00am at the large conference room at the Key Centre, Feltham Lane. It will finish at 1.00pm.
To mark the end of the ‘Balsam Bash’ sessions, Frome Job Club and The Friends of The River Frome will be having a celebratory and well deserved tea and biscuits on 6th August at 12.15pm at the Key Centre – All welcome.
Alexis Bradley, who runs Frome’s Job Clubs, is keen to promote volunteering within the community. She said, “The right volunteering opportunity can be valuable to you and to the local community. Volunteering can help you find friends, it can support you in learning or developing skills, it can advance your career and job prospects, enable you to gain work experience, build self esteem and self confidence, and it can improve your mental and physical health.
“Alongside benefits to you, you will work knowing that you have really made a positive impact on the lives of others. Organisations that take on volunteers should offer training, support and guidance so it is a great way to re-engage with the world of work or indeed be a great stepping stone into work for those who have not worked before. We advocate volunteering whole-heartedly and place huge value on all volunteers.”
David Allford, Aster Communities customer involvement and community development manager said, “We’re delighted to support this project with a grant to help cover insurance costs, room hire and equipment.
“This great initiative provides an excellent opportunity for people to learn new skills and – just as importantly – have fun! One of our top priorities is to help our customers gain access to employment opportunities. The Frome Job Clubs are making a real difference in communities where we work so we’re particularly pleased to be able to offer some additional help.”
For more volunteering opportunities in your community see www.do-it. org.uk. If you are a local group or organisation that has volunteering opportunities, please contact Alexis at ViSTA on 08453580372 or email alexis@vistaproject.org.uk or simply pop in to Job Club. See www.vistapro ject.org.uk/job-clubs for more information on job clubs.
Frome Job Club takes place every Wednesday 10.00am-12.30pm at St John’s Residents Centre, St John’s Rd, Frome. They also have a Frome Local Jobs Board Facebook group which now has over 300 members. Local job vacancies are posted on a daily basis.
If you are an employer and have a vacancy or if you have simply heard of or seen a vacancy, please feel free to post it in to the group. The Job Club also offers 1:1 coaching and mentoring sessions outside of the club for those who may need more in depth support.
For more information on Friends of The River Frome, please see their website www.fromeriverfriends.org.uk
