Skills programme to help women into work wins an award

Tower Hamlets Homes, which manages the council’s housing, has won an award for a project which supports unemployed women.

Fokrul Hoque and Rizia Ali from Tower Hamlets Homes with their award. Picture: THH - Credit: Archant

The Women in Housing award was given for the childcare, training and employment project, which helps unemployed women to get vocational qualifications.

The three-year project, supported by the Big Lottery Fund, helps break down barriers for women from black, asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to find work suitable for their circumstances.

Through the programme, Tower Hamlets Homes provided work placements, apprenticeships, skills training and small loans. Now in its’ final year, the project has helped 44 women into employment, 90 into further training, 75 into volunteering roles and 325 have completed a capacity building programme.

Councillor Sirajul Islam, Tower Hamlets’ deputy mayor, said: “We already know how successful our childcare project is and the difference it is making to the lives of residents so this award is well deserved.

“There are so many barriers that women in Tower Hamlets can face when starting or returning to employment and anything we can do to tackle this makes a real difference. We faced stiff competition to win this prize and I’m pleased that the judges were impressed by our unique partnership work.”