Events

THE STEP UP PROJECTEMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
This is a National Lottery funded project specifically aiming to deliver a first steps programme for  under-employed Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) adults resident in Merton and neighbouring  Boroughs, including refugees and lone parents. Participants may require intensive short-term personal development support to help them to develop motivation, aspirations, self-confidence and awareness of the training opportunities available to help them secure employment and make realistic plans about the next steps in their journey. 

As part of FANON services users Recovery Star programme, the Step Up Project has been rolled out to support this activity for Clients benefit on Wednesday afternoons. The STEP UP Project, operating at the Resource Centre since October 2010, between 1pm and 3pm, is proving to be very popular for all those wishing to improve their employability skills. Our SELF CONFIDENCE and MOTIVATION sessions blended nicely with the weekend workshops on the same topic run by Sutton and Merton’s IAPT Team, and if Fanon carry on opening on Saturdays, to be continued in February 2011. 

We have assisted 6 service users with CV WRITING and COVERING LETTERS and completed 6 VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS so far; these are in the form of electronic questionnaires which match ones natural skills and abilities to the careers and jobs most suitable to the individual, highlighting any TRAINING NEEDS that might be necessary to achieve one’s goal. By their own merits, 3 service users have obtained work whilst attending the project, stating that tips on INTERVIEW SKILLS were very useful to them in their success. 

Step Up Workers Pat Yeboah and Telma Da Silva give basic tuition on how to surf the internet and JOB SEARCH and are on hand to give advice on any issue towards gaining employment.

Basic English ESOL classes are taught by Pat on Thursdays  between 1.30 and 3.30pm where job application form filling etc can also be accessed for FANON service users. Overall, the response has been great and around 30 service users have attended the weekly sessions or sought individual advice on the highlighted topics from the 2 project workers.

 Patricia Yeboah, FRCM Volunteer 

Cultural  Events and Celebration 

Fanon Resource Centre Merton has been very active over the last few months organising events along-side service users and the community. In celebrating Black History month, African Liberation Day and Deepawali, the Resource Centre venue was full of people from all backgrounds to embrace the culture of our people.

African Liberation Day was held on 26^th May 2010 the first event to warm us up for the coming summer workshop and training events. The October Black History Month event showed us diverse influences that have contributed and played a major part in African Caribbean history.  This was further improved with live music from the Lorrimore Band which was both exhilarating entertaining. When the Caribbean food arrived from our one of our local groups, the line formed immediately and people couldn’t wait to get seconds even before they finished firsts; the day was a tremendous success.

Our annual Deepawali event took place on the 5^th of November and as usual this was a humbling and spiritual experience. This time of year gives Hindu’s an opportunity to give thanks and be enlightened by their god. I gained a lot from the celebration as I felt soothed and spiritually attuned as rituals and prayers were given by a Hindu priest (bhooja). Even though the majority of people who attended were of Hindu belief, everybody in attendance participated fully freely engaging in the Hindu rituals and customs on display. The Fanon Resource Centre Merton is now Blessed for the coming year.

Later on in the Year FRCM set out to embark on the World Mental Health Sports Day – not just to defend our haul of trophies from 2009 but also for Fanon service users to enjoy a day of fun in Sports activities at the local leisure centre. The day was run by Merton Mind, IMAGINE and Fanon (the main players in Merton) who help  people in the community to engage in exercise therapy to better their well being. The day was full of vibrant banter and enthusiastic participants who have a talent for sport, enjoy exercise or just like to join in. At the end of the day, we left with our usual haul of medals for everyone and the Trophy for the quiz event which we won with 26 out of 26 correct answers.

Let’s hope 2011 will be as much fun …..

 

Haben Abraha, FRCM client.