We are pleased to be able to report on the performance of Volition Manchester over the operational year and we are delighted to have achieved a firm ‘in work’ figure of 32%  during this operational period.

Within this time there has been 88 starts in 8 cohorts, 64 of whom have completed the programme and achieved a City & Guilds qualification. It is expected 82 people will have completed and achieved the programme and qualification. A further 6 have gone straight into work after only completing only a week or two weeks on the programme, and not having achieved a qualification.

During the year, referrals have been higher than starts, which we expected. However, due to the voluntary nature of the programme and type of candidate we view a 79% uptake as wholly positive.

The employment barriers of referred claimants to Volition remain very challenging, and you will see that from the many employment barriers, some of the most evident are:

• Mental health needs: 30% report mental health needs
• Health and learning difficulties: 87% report some form of health or learning need
• Length of unemployment: 48% unemployed for over 3 years
• Educational attainment: 50% have no previous qualifications
• Present basic skills levels: 61% low/poor literacy skills and 67% low/poor numeracy (this equates to a spectrum within the higher and lower end of primary school expectations)

On the Volition programme we focus on real forms of tangible progression made, as well and aside from paid employment, such as:

• A relevant qualification and updated CV
• Relevant work experience and the opportunity for a good quality reference
• Opportunities for continued volunteering and experience etc.

We also actively monitor more intangible, soft outcomes of progression which relate to increase to self-confidence and self-awareness, better inter-personal skills etc. as these are really important for the candidates