The Thames Reach Volunteering and Employment for Life scheme (TRaVEL) help people to build confidence by developing basic skills and gaining work experience in a safe and supportive environment.
The TRaVEL scheme has two elements: an eight-week classroom-based course to develop essential skills, such as communication and teamwork, and a two-month volunteering placement to put what they’ve learned into practice. Each participant receives dedicated support from the course tutor and a placement ‘buddy’.
At the end of the scheme, participants are helped to identify their next steps, which could be more volunteering, education or training courses, or looking for suitable employment.