Employment and Skills Support

If you are currently unemployed, and either feel ready to get a job or aren't sure about where to start, Lancashire Women are here for you.

Our Employment Support Team provide an individually tailored service if you are based in Lancashire and are looking to gain employment, go into education, volunteering or job searching.

Our experienced staff will work with you on a one to one basis or we can put you in touch with one of our partner organisations to develop your own personal action plan and support you to achieve your goals.

You may have been impacted by covid, are struggling with your mental or physical health, returning to work after a break or want to boost skills and confidence before looking for work. Whatever your reason for support, talk to us!

We can help you:

Boost your confidence & self-esteem
Update/Create your CV
Search for jobs
Apply for jobs
Practice interview techniques
Improve your digital skills
Find the right training courses/qualifications
Develop work skills
Look for volunteer placements
Check that you're claiming all the correct benefits you're entitled to whilst you're unemployed

Frequently Asked Questions

What support can you offer?

We have a variety of programmes running to help women who are un-employed, ill, disabled or a carer in Lancashire. We can also help those that are ready for work and are actively looking for work. Support will be centred around the person's needs e.g. CV writing, digital support, interview techniques, confidence building. Anything from lower level support (eg skills updates) to intensive support (overcoming barriers if you have never worked before). Call us or complete our online referral form.

I have a zero hours contract, and I am looking for a different job – can you help me?

Yes we can! Please enquire about our MPT steps programme.

I am not ready to look for work yet but I do want help with my confidence ... can you help?

Yes. Our Lifeskills Courses and Confidence Cafes are delivered digital/face to face across our centres designed to support women who are perhaps not quite ready to look for work, but need help with confidence, mental health support, support getting basic skills qualifications etc. See our what's on page for current dates/availability

Do you offer Employment Support for men?

The MPT Steps programme offers support for men but not through our centres. For more information contact them through the main website at MPT Steps | Active Lancashire

Can you help me whilst I am long term sick from work?

This would depend on your individual circumstances - please get in touch to see what support we offer. Call us or complete our online referral form.

I have children, but really want to get back to work, what can I do?

We can do back-to-work calculations and help with employment support and volunteering opportunities and any training requirements. Call us or complete our online referral form.

How can I refer myself into your services?

Call us on 0300 330 1354 or complete our self-referral form.

Current Projects:

MPT Steps

MPT Steps is a Lancashire partnership project, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF), set to provide tailored 1-2-1 support to job seekers who may have recently been made unemployed following the Covid-19 Pandemic, or those who are economically inactive living in Lancashire.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage in a range of activities, linking together wellbeing with economic activity, boosting confidence, embracing positive change and stepping back into work.

Achieve North West Connect - Employability Support

Following the Government update, our one to one support will continue to be offered where possible, via phone in the first instance. Our priority is now to work with each of you individually to agree what form of contact is most appropriate to suit your needs and circumstances.

CFO3 is co-financed by Her Majesty Prison and Probation service (HMPPS) and the European Social Fund (ESF) to support social inclusion through improving the employability prospects of disadvantaged ex-offenders.

Working in partnership with Achieve North West Connect to support women with an ETE need in addition to at least 2 other complex pathway needs e.g. substance misuse, accommodation, mental and physical health.

We offer support with accessing first step courses and further training as well as providing in house volunteering opportunities to gain experience and a reference.

Achieve project is part-funded by the European Social Fund.

Building Better Opportunities – Employability Support

The Building Better Opportunities (BBO) programme in Lancashire which provides specialist employability and skills support. It is part of the nationwide Building Better Opportunities programme, funded by the European Social Fund and The National Lottery Community Fund Support to help tackle the poverty and social exclusion faced by the most disadvantaged people in England. It is tailored to each individuals personal needs and interests, with help provided to overcome barriers and help people move towards work and training.

This project is delivered exclusively by social enterprises and community organisations and we are proud to be part this specialist partnership whose work is transforming lives across Lancashire.

Age of Opportunity - supports people aged 50+, and who are currently unemployed or economically inactive, to improve their skills and employment opportunities. Support is aimed at those facing significant barriers to employment, for example caring responsibilities, low skills or mental ill health.
Changing Futures - supports individuals who are at risk of exclusion from the labour market to overcome multiple and complex barriers and move towards employment and training. Intensive employability support helps people to identify, reduce and remove barriers to employment.

See tabs below for more about this project:

Age of Opportunity

The Age of Opportunity project has been designed specifically to meet the needs of over 50s who would like to work but are unable to without additional skills or support. A core focus for this project is supporting older people who are most at risk of social exclusion, for example; due to mental or physical health difficulties, homelessness or being full-time carers.

Through this project, we work with a number of partners to offer employment support working with participants to understand their interests, aspirations and barriers to work or training. Each individual is then directed within our thematic partner network for specialist support that will help them to engage in work readiness activity.

Changing Futures

The Changing Futures project is focussed on supporting people facing multiple and complex barriers to employment. All participants are unemployed or economically inactive and are at high risk of social exclusion, such as people from BAME communities, people with physical or mental health problems and people with learning difficulties.

Through the Changing Futures project, we work with each participant as an individual. Our Employability Coaches help each participant to understand their own abilities, skills and interests to identify ways to help address their multiple barriers to economic activity.

Call us: 0300 330 1354

Our phone-lines are open between

9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4:30pm on Fridays. (local rate)

You can also leave a voicemail out of hours and we will get back in touch with you.

Alternatively you can:

Email Us

Use our online form

If you would like someone to contact you regarding the support we can offer, please complete our online referral form.

Online self referral form

My caseworker has been amazing in helping me prepare to return to university after I had to take a break because I was struggling with my mental health. She has helped me develop skills and routines to help me through university and get through the admin of returning.

She's walked me through setting tasks each week to break down workloads, and I'm sure I wouldn't have done everything I needed to without her. My caseworker has been a life saver these past weeks, and was always there when I needed her.

- Inspiring Futures Attendee