Simone Weldon has started a career in retail working for M&S, after contacting Actes for support in CV writing and job searching last November. The 24-year-old had been out of work for five years to concentrate on raising her son, however when he started full-time school in September, she decided the time was right to get back into employment.… Read the rest

Actes’ One Planet Pioneers programme was privileged to take part in an event in Westminster recently, joining over 40 young people from Our Bright Futures programmes from across the UK to meet with MPs and ask for more to be done for the environment.… Read the rest

When Johanne Walker was put in touch with Actes last November to refresh her IT skills, she didn’t expect to come away with renewed self-confidence, valuable work experience and would be about to embark on a new career.

The 44-year-old from Stockton had worked as a nurse at North Tees Hospital for 25 years until early 2018 when she suffered a breakdown due to difficulties in her personal life.  

Johanne comments: “When my relationship broke down and I lost the job I’d been doing for all of my adult life my confidence was badly knocked and I began struggling with anxiety and depression.  I lived off my savings for several months before finally contacting the Job Centre for help as I was ashamed of the turn my life had taken.”

With a need to update her CV and search for jobs in the health and social care sector, Johanne asked her work coach about IT courses and was referred onto Actes’ accredited IT and employability course, Work IT Out.… Read the rest

Actes has welcomed a new member of staff in a post that has been created to provide more opportunities for people within the local community to get active.

In his role as Activity Officer based at the Acklam Green Centre, 24-year-old Ollie Hodgson will engage with people from the local community and sports and activity providers to enhance the provision for inactive residents, with the aim of reducing poor health, social isolation and loneliness.  The role is funded by the Tees Valley Community Foundation’s Getting the Inactive Active grants programme, in partnership with Sport England and the National Lottery.… Read the rest

Actes’ Head of Finance Anne Davies has come a long way since embarking on a Business Admin YTS almost 20-years ago.  With an overall responsibility for the charity’s financial health, Anne combines both an operational and strategic role, managing the accounting and financial control functions for the organisation as well as shaping its financial strategy to ensure long-term growth.… Read the rest

Forty-nine-year-old Darren Hinson from North Ormesby is a step closer to securing employment after embarking on Actes’ IT and employability course, Work IT Out.

Darren found himself out of work this summer after spending 11 years as a kitchen porter at Marton Country Club before the venue’s closure, followed by a more recent spell as a porter at a Middlesbrough restaurant.  Having admitted to never switching on a computer in his life, Darren’s Job Coach at Middlesbrough Job Centre suggested he enrol on Work IT Out to get to grips with IT to enable him to search for jobs online.… Read the rest

Forty-eight-year-old Patrick Sheehy from Middlesbrough is a prime example of how Actes’ IT and employability course Work IT Out is helping people to improve their confidence and be better prepared to navigate Universal Credit.

Patrick had engaged with the Jobcentre for many years and had struggled to attend the various courses he’d been referred on to due to confidence issues and an inbuilt fear of IT.  However, after completing Work IT Out, Patrick has not only displayed improved confidence in using a computer, but a more positive and enthusiastic attitude towards learning.… Read the rest

When 18-year-old Shannon Grayston relocated to Middlesbrough from North Yorkshire two years ago she had no qualifications and wasn’t sure which path to take. However, she is now engaging local young people in environmental activities after completing her Level One in peer mentoring through One Planet Pioneers, delivered by Actes.… Read the rest