WfF - Aims

The aim of the project is to help families to break free of the financial trap of unemployment or low paid work. By increasing the potential of the adult/s for a satisfying and rewarding job, so improve the living standards of their children, providing them with a more optimistic but realistic expectation of a future in which they contribute to and participate in society.

Over a period of four years some 800 families across Highland will be targeted in this multi agency attempt to overcome barriers to employability including: inappropriate skills base, logistics or lack of childcare. From education providers to childcare specialists and social work practitioners, a plethora of operatives are in the field and ready to refer clients to, or provide resources via, the Parent Champions who are spearheading the project.

Parent Champions will support and encourage their clients, on average 30 per year, through the process of helping to develop the personal effectiveness of each individual, ultimately enabling them to improve their family's situation and move from dependency on state handouts to being self-supporting.

Ten people make up the core team: the co-ordinator and administrative assistant are based in the Highland Opportunity Ltd. offices in Inverness and there are two parent champions in each of four areas: Caithness & Sutherland, Skye & Lochalsh, Ross & Cromarty and Inverness. The team come from a variety of backgrounds including health, social work, education, community policing and business making for a mixed and highly skilled set of people whose energy and personal attributes will help them to succeed in their aims.