Upturn Enterprise, one of our Working Potential providers, link into the community in a novel way. They have a working model of recruiting local people to be Community Champions working alongside the Working Potential Coaches. They are recruited in either a volunteering or paid capacity for their knowledge of Salford and the different services on offer locally. The paid positions require a commitment of 8 hours per week with a great deal of flexibility in when and where the work is undertaken, perfectly suited to a carer. In fact, one of Salford’s Carer Champions is a carer and the role has helped develop her skills and confidence to the point where she has now secured a full-time job with another company and we wish her all the best in her new role.  

One community champion has been focusing on identifying training for the carers on the programme and has supported a few carers onto courses to upskill. Several have been on IT courses and one has enrolled on an AAT course with a bookkeeping job secured on completion of the course.   

The other champion has been focussing on improving the IT skills of carers, enabling them to use email, upload photos and skype with members of their family. This has been a real bonus to those more isolated and one family regularly skypes with their son, which has really improved the wellbeing of both carer and cared for and also improved confidence in their IT literacy.  

The community champions also help carers to update their CV’s and identify transferable skills, resulting in increased confidence as carers start to realise how valuable their skills are. A great example of this is Angela’s story. To read more about Angela click here.