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Motiv8 celebrates a year of success
Motiv8, a Greater Manchester programme to help people get back on track, is celebrating one year of success.
Motiv8 was set up thanks to £9.7m funding from the European Social Fund (2014-2020) and the National Lottery, through the Big Lottery Fund, to help people aged 25 plus overcome multiple barriers preventing them from engaging with training, job search and employment opportunities.
Since the programme went live in January 2017, Motiv8 has received more than 1,900 referrals from around Greater Manchester and achieved 800 positive outcomes for clients.
Over three years Motiv8 aims to support nearly 4,000 people to overcome multiple, complex needs and move them closer to training and work.
When Eric Beever, aged 31, was referred to Motiv8 he was drinking heavily, suicidal at times and sometimes homeless. He said: “Motiv8 has made such a huge difference to my life. I was in a state – a complete mess. My keyworker made me feel like a person again and not just some homeless drunk to be ignored on the street. I can’t thank the Motiv8 team enough for their support. They put me in touch with a network of organisations I didn’t even know existed. These people have all given me strength, hope and confidence for the future.”
Motiv8 offers a personalised approach to helping clients identify their barriers and devise a tailored action plan that is specific to their needs. Motiv8 works with a wide variety of people, including those who are homeless, long-term unemployed, living with mental or physical disabilities and health conditions, drug and alcohol dependent or are experiencing other complex needs.
New Charter Group leads the Motiv8 programme with support from five other Manchester Athena housing providers – Stockport Homes, ForViva, Wythenshawe Community Housing Group and Bolton at Home.
Bolton at Home covers Bolton and Wigan and we deliver in these areas through our social enterprise Starts with you.
Ian Munro, Chair of Manchester Athena and Chief Executive of New Charter Group said: “This programme works with some of the most vulnerable people in society and tackles the barriers that prevent those furthest away from the labour market to take steps towards improving their lives. It is rewarding to hear how, with a bit of support, people can change their lives and start to look forward to the future.”
Motiv8 also works with a wide range of specialist partners to access support from education and training, health and wellbeing services, financial programmes and many others to help build confidence, self-esteem and to get people back on the right track. These partners include Shelter, Home-Start, Migrants Support, LGBT Foundation, Wai Yin Society, Challenge 4 Change and One Manchester.
You can view Eric’s story and other inspiring stories at http://www.motiv8mcr.org/success-stories.
To find out more about Motiv8 and the eligibility criteria for the programme, please visit www.motiv8mcr.org, phone 0161 331 2048 or email info@manchesterbbo.co.uk. You can also follow them on Twitter @Motiv8GM.