The People with Potential (PWP) service in West Lothian enables people to overcome barriers and move towards employment. PWP provides; assessment of employability skills, personal planning and liaison with employers to access jobs and practical and emotional support through the tricky transition into a working lifestyle.
This innovative service is delivered in partnership with West Lothian Youth Inclusion Project (YIP).
The Youth Inclusion Project is a multi-agency approach in working with young people who have been looked after by the council and young homeless people to help improve their chances of future employability. These young people come from a variety of different backgrounds and key workers are the critical factor in the success of the project. The results are fantastic. Between 2009/2010 60% of young people who engaged with the project entered employment, training or volunteering. The project has evolved primarily through a partnership between West Lothian Council and Edinburgh Cyrenian Trust. The project has been recognised as an exemplar model of partnership working between statutory and voluntary sector organisations.

What we will do:

• Assess your needs & help identify barriers preventing you from achieving your potential.
• In partnership with you, develop a personal plan to overcome the barriers you have identified.
• Provide high quality one to one key-work in the community, including support to access local services as well as providing support on a variety of issues linked to homelessness.
• Regularly review your personal plan to ensure that you continue to receive the support you require to achieve your goals.
• Provide access to a variety of activity programs, either provided by the Cyrenians or in partnership as part of the Youth Inclusion Project (YIP); such as training, basic education, college courses and community activities.

Who can apply? We can help people who:

• Live in West Lothian

• Are aged between 16 and 25 years old
• Are in housing need (homeless or without a secure place to live
• Are threatened with homelessness
• Are in accommodation where they feel unsafe or harassed
• Are wishing to explore education, training and employment opportunities