Paul Goggins, MP for Wythenshaw was invited to observe the project. He said:
“'The LAB project is a very effective way of reconnecting people to the wider community and underlining the important message that everyone has the skills and the talent to make a difference'
To become a participant you must be 19+ and in receipt of state benefit. For the Huddersfield LAB you must be a resident of the Kirklees area.
In addition, Proper Job also runs a bespoke LAB for young people aged 16-19 not in employment, education or training. LAB 16-19 offers participants the chance to gain a Bronze Arts Award through the course.
Proper Job continues to run its successful community engagement programme, The LAB Project.
The LAB project is designed to award participants the skills and confidence in order to progress to further training and employment. The project runs in Manchester and at Proper Job’s base in Huddersfield.
Proper Job accepts that communities are made up of individuals. That’s why the LAB is an innovative, personal development programme that works to suit an individual’s needs and existing skills. The course is also accredited through the open college network and offers credits towards NVQ levels 1 and 2.
The LAB runs intensively for two weeks and uses drama to access creativity and improve self-esteem. At the end of the course participants then get a chance to put new skills into practice by running a drama workshop in a local primary school.
The programme has engaged over 400 participants on JSA and incapacity benefit and lone parents, with tremendous results for progression onto work and/or further education.
