From Doorstep Conversations to New Careers: JobsPlus Reaches 50 Jobs

Fifty local people. Twenty-four streets. One growing community of people supporting one another towards work.

JobsPlus Liverpool has reached an important milestone, with 50 residents from our neighbourhood in Toxteth now moving into employment.

Every one of those 50 successes has a different story behind it. For some people, the journey began with help writing a CV. For others, it started with a conversation about confidence, wellbeing or what they wanted their future to look like.

“When we started, we knew that trust would take time to build with residents. Reaching 50 jobs feels particularly special because so many of those journeys began with a simple conversation on someone’s doorstep.”

Meet Curtis, our 50th resident to move into work

For Curtis, it all started with him answering the door to an unknown knock.

JobsPlus Employment Coach Jo introduced herself while speaking to residents in the local area. Just an hour later, Curtis visited the JobsPlus hub at Kelvin Grove to find out more.

As a single parent, Curtis was not simply looking for any vacancy. He wanted work that would fit around family life while giving him the opportunity to continue doing something he loved: cooking. In between being one of our community champions and spreading the word about the hub, Jo was hard at work finding the right vacancy that would have the flexibility to meet his family needs.

Once they’d identified together a suitable vacancy, a chef role close to home, Jo prepared his CV to make sure he’d stand out, and then have mock interviews so that he’d have the best chance of getting the job. Fast forward a couple of weeks and SUCCESS! Curtis is now working, studying and building a future around his passion. Reflecting on the support he received, he said “I don’t know where I would be now if Jo hadn’t knocked at my door”

Support that starts with the person, not a checklist

JobsPlus is built around a simple idea: you should not need to arrive with the “right” question to receive support.

Someone might initially visit the hub because they want help finding a job. Another person might be feeling isolated, struggling with confidence or unsure how to use online application systems. Some residents are already working but want more hours, a different role or an opportunity to develop new skills. Wherever the conversation begins, the team can help the person identify a next step that feels realistic for them.

People’s journeys and barriers are never linear. We ensure the hub Is available to support them throughout the ups, downs, and obstructions.

More than a place to search for jobs

On any given week, the hub in Kelvin Grove might host a community cooking class, a conversation about men’s wellbeing, a gardening session or a pottery activity.

These activities are not separate from the employment support. They give residents a relaxed way to meet the team, connect with neighbours and build confidence without feeling pressured to talk about work immediately.

Sometimes the first step towards a new job is updating a CV. Sometimes it is simply leaving the house, meeting someone new and realising that support is available when you are ready.

Employers are always active in the hub too, whether that’s at community events, or if they’re supporting us with mock interviews. Having this close access to employers can lead to opportunity – as seen recently with one of our community champions, getting a job offer on the spot!

Neighbours helping neighbours

Some of the most important conversations do not begin in an office. They happen on doorsteps, in the street and between people who already understand the neighbourhood.

Local Community Champions help introduce residents to JobsPlus. Because they live locally, they bring knowledge, relationships and an understanding of the things that can make it difficult for someone to engage with more traditional services.

Their role is not to pressure people into work. It is to bridge the gap, and make sure residents know that friendly, practical support is available close to home.
The success has been evident in our data too – of our 24 streets, it’s shown that if you have a Community Champion living on your street, the residents there have had more job outcomes and more training outcomes.

Fifty jobs, and fifty different journeys

Curtis may be the 50th resident supported into work, but the milestone represents 49 other individual journeys.

Residents have moved into opportunities across hospitality, healthcare, culture, events and traffic management. These include roles at the Grand National, the NHS and the University of Liverpool, as well as a Trainee Director opportunity at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre.

The variety reflects an important part of the JobsPlus approach. The goal is not to place everyone into the same type of work. It is to help each person explore opportunities that reflect their circumstances, strengths and ambitions.

What 50 jobs could mean for the neighbourhood?

Each job matters first and foremost to the person and household involved. Collectively, however, the impact reaches much further.

Transform Lives Company estimates that the 50 employment outcomes could represent close to £850,000 in additional wages each year across the 24 streets covered by the programme.

That means more income entering local households, alongside the confidence, independence, skills and opportunities that can come with good employment.

How we calculated this estimate: This is a conservative indicative figure rather than a record of residents’ individual earnings. It uses an official minimum wage benchmark and a cautious assumption about average weekly working hours.

Could JobsPlus help you take your next step?

If you live in the eligible JobsPlus area, you do not need to know exactly what support you need before getting in touch.

You can visit the team at 3 Kelvin Grove, Liverpool, L8 3UE, email admin@transform-lives.org, or call 07728 288007.

Whether you want to find work, change jobs, build your confidence, learn new skills or have an initial conversation over a cuppa, the team would be pleased to meet you.