Positive Goals Project, a Snapshot in the Morton Community

Positive Goals Project, a Snapshot in the Morton Community

Since January 2015, Morton Community has been engaging job seekers and supporting their journey back to work through the flagship project Positive Goals.

In partnership with DWP Job Centre Plus, the Morton Community primarily engages single parents and job seekers aged 25+. The foundation has supported 54% of the participants into work or full time education within a 13 week window of Positive Goals ending, this rises to over 60% after 26 weeks. Gordon McKillop, Education, Employability & Operations Manager, commented: “We can be proud of our work thus far. Our role is to support people, we have a responsibility to help equip our participants with the necessary tools to progress towards their goals.” 89% of participants progressing into permanent employment sustain their employment for at least 13 weeks, 84% sustain at least 26 weeks.

“Football clubs now change people’s lives”

Using the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale, 85% of the participants have stated their confidence has increased having engaged in Positive Goals. Gordon added: “For me, building self-confidence is of absolute paramount. People that feel better about themselves and have a higher degree of self-belief are more likely to challenge themselves and take on uncomfortable tasks.”

Positive Goals engages people for 6 weeks at Cappielow Park followed by 13 weeks of 1 to 1 aftercare support. Prior to engaging with Morton in the Community, 30% of participants had no qualification. Positive Goals offers three, including Core Skills in IT at level 2, 3 or 4, Emergency First Aid and World Host Principles in Customer Service.

Gordon said: “The reach and capability a football club has is unique. Football clubs now change people’s lives and is so much more than 3-5pm on a Saturday. Four years ago I would have rolled my eyes at a football club delivering an employability project. Now it is becoming common practice, not only in Scotland but across Europe there are clubs producing phenomenal, tangible and sustainable results.”

The Morton Community is currently recruiting for the upcoming single parent programme, if you wish further information, please contact Gordon on 01475 731949 or gordon@mortoncommunity.net.

The progammes are based on excellent partnerships with DWP Job Centre Plus, Financial Fitness, Inverclyde Council’s CLD, Craigend Resource Centre, West College Scotland, GMFC, Holiday Inn Express Greenock and EE.