Please refer to the RBKC Jobs and Training Guide 2020-22 and Adult Learning Guide 2019-20 (see links below). Excellent documents produced by RBKC outlining details of all local organisations who can help support people in their search for employment, training and education.
RBKC Jobs and Training – The Guide 2020-2022
RBKC Adult Learning in Kensington and Chelsea 2019-2020
Other services that may also be of help:
- ACAS – Anyone needing advice about their job, pay and rights
- Citizen’s Advice – Anyone needing advice about their job, pay and rights
- Community Living Well Employment Support Service – Primary care
- Fit for Work Service – For those signed off work for > 4 weeks
- GOV.UK – Anyone needing advice about their job, pay and rights
- Hestia – Anyone with mental illness
- Hodan Somali Community – Somali and BME
- Jewish Association for Mental Illness – Jewish
- Midaye – BME
- Migrants Organise – Refugees, asylum seekers and migrants
- Mind (National) – Anyone needing advice about their job, pay and rights
- Mind (K&C Branch) – Anyone with mental illness
- Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre – Muslims
- Response Community Project – In and around Earl’s Court
- SMART – Anyone with mental illness
- Smart Works – Disadvantaged women
- Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea – Anyone
- Workplace Mental Health Support Service – Anyone whose mental health issues are affecting their work
ACAS
Provides free and impartial advice and information on a wide range of workplace issues, including:
- employment rights and responsibilities
- pay and the National Minimum Wage
- discipline and grievance
- contracts and terms and conditions
- working time, rest breaks and holiday entitlement
- equality in the workplace
- working for an employment agency
W: http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1461
Telephone Helpline (interpreters available): 0300 123 1100
Citizens Advice
Nationwide charity that provides free, confidential information and advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and other problems. Includes advice about rights at work, discrimination and how to deal with problems.
W: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk
T: 03444 111 444
A: K&C Branch, 2 Acklam Rd, London W10 5QZ
Community Living Well Employment Support Service
For adults with mental health issues under the care of their GP (i.e. not accessing secondary level mental health services). Offers a wide range of practical help, advice and coaching support, including:
- Help finding the right kind of work
- Return to work after a period of sick leave
- Staying in work and/or deal with workplace adjustments
- Employment rights
Also supports to learn a wide range of skills, including job searching, writing CVs and interview preparation.
Referral is either online https://communitylivingwell.co.uk/wellbeing-services-referral-form/ or by calling 020 3317 4200
Fit for Work Service
Occupational health advice service for people signed off work for more than four weeks. Its aim is to support individuals to manage their health condition at home and at work, and can support a faster return to work from sickness absence.
People can browse online resources, chat online to a specialist advisor, email a question or call the free advice line.
A: 0800 032 6235
E: FFWSKC@nhs.net
GOV.UK
Government public sector website. Provides a variety of information, including about working, jobs and pensions and employees entitlements and rights.
W:https://www.gov.uk/browse/working
Hestia
Offers a broad range of services including helping people find a permanent home, manage their finances, take care of their health, and access work, training or education, as well as providing emotional and practical support to help people succeed in their daily lives. Operates via two mental health day centres.
A: Grove Resource Centre (1-9 St Mark’s Road, London W11 1RG – T: 020 7221 0052)
A: The Oremi Centre (Unit 3 Trellick Tower, 5 Golborne Road, London W10 5PA – T: 020 8964 0033)
E: jenny.webb@hestia.org
Hodan Somali Community
Organisation working with Somali and BME groups in and around W10 – targeting the most vulnerable in particular e.g. elderly, people with disabilities, people with mental health problems, single mothers and their children. Aims to offer community support, advice, employment support and women’s empowerment.
A: Canalside House, 383 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5AA
T: 020 8960 5813
E: admin@hodan.org.uk
Jewish Association for Mental Illness (JAMI)
Open to Jewish adults, affected by mental health problems. Provides day care, social work, advice, information and social activities for them, and their families and carers.
Offers vocational support and advice through;
- finding or maintaining employment
- accessing education and training
- finding volunteering opportunities
T: 020 8458 2223
E: info@jamiuk.org
Midaye
Provides advice, advocacy, mental health support and education services to members of the local community. Also FGM support and clinic service, outreach and peer support, fitness classes, diabetes mentoring and BME carers forum.
A: Unit 6, 7 Thorpe Close, London W10 5XL7
T: 020 8969 7456
E: contact@midaye.org.uk
Migrants Organise
Offers an enabling community programme for asylum seekers, migrants and refugees living in London. Run weekly activities that encourage socialisation and build skills e.g. English classes, poetry, sewing, walking, youth and health and wellbeing groups. Can also provide individual advice and support for issues such as asylum support, employment, housing and welfare benefits. Weekly immigration advice sessions are provided by a barrister.
Their Transforming Lives project is a mentoring scheme for those who are particularly isolated, in need of extra support or dealing with mental health problems. Mentees are placed with a mentor who speaks the same language and who can help them to access services, learn new skills and build confidence. Meet on a weekly basis for six months.
A: 2 Thorpe Close, London, W10 5XL
T: 020 8964 4815
E: info@migrantsorganise.org
Mind (National)
Provides online advice and information for employees and employees about mental health at work, as well as information and signposting about discrimination and disclosure.
Mental Health at Work: https://www.mind.org.uk/workplace/mental-health-at-work/
How to be Mentally Healthy at Work: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/workplace-mental-health/#.XJIO6i10dN1
Discrimination at Work: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/legal-rights/discrimination-at-work/examples-of-discrimination-at-work/#.XJINZi10dN0
Mind (K&C Branch)
Offers a Skills Development Service which runs accredited training courses in horticulture, IT, and painting and decorating for people experiencing mental health problems to help them get into and stay in work. Volunteers are also accepted to help provide these courses.
Run from two sites, both based in W10. Please refer to the K&C Mind website for further details, including eligibility criteria.
W: https://www.kcmind.org.uk/services/training-and-employment-services/
T: 020 8960 6777
E: skillsdevelopment@kcmind.org.uk
Muslim Cultural Heritage Centre
Community centre for Muslim people in and around North Kensington, providing a range of spiritual, cultural, social and educational activities. Projects include ESOL classes, Arabic language classes and Qur’an Lessons for men and women. Also offers a variety of fitness classes, a homework club for children, health and legal services.
A: 244 Acklam Road, London, W10 5YG
T: 0208 964 1496
E: info@mchc.org.uk
Response Community Project
A community centre for people in and around Earls Court. They organise social activities, public events, creative activities and low cost health classes. Also run a beginners computer classes.
W: www.responseprojects.org.uk
A: 300 Old Brompton Road, London, SW5 9JF
T: 020 7370 4606
E: info@responseprojects.org.uk
SMART
SMART seeks to promote mental health through purposeful activities by offering work, training and social opportunities to people with mental illness who live in KCW. Services include advice and information, advocacy, a training and employment service, a community cafe, a gardening and floristry project, ICT training, a packing project and a variety of social clubs. Volunteering opportunities are available.
A: The Basement, 15 Gertrude Street , London, SW10 0JN
T: 0207 376 4668
E: info@smartlondon.org.uk
Smart Works
A charity providing help for disadvantaged women to take up employment opportunities through the provision of professional attire. It is open to any unemployed women with a confirmed job interview. Women are provided with a suit and accessories appropriate for an interview. Additional clothing is available once the client has found a job.
They also offer mentoring for women returning to work, workshops on interview techniques, CVs and applications, motivation skills. Referral only.
A: Smart Works West London, 1st Floor, St Charles Hospital, London W10 6DZ
T: 020 8962 6586
E: london@smartworks.org.uk
Volunteer Centre Kensington and Chelsea
VCKC is the central hub for volunteering in Kensington and Chelsea – working to recruit and place volunteers across the borough. It offers support to those who want to volunteer as a route to employment, better health and wellbeing or independent living and has programmes in place to help those with specific barriers, such as mental illness. Both long term, regular and flexible, one-off volunteering opportunities are available.
The service also provides a resettlement programme to help integrate people with convictions back into the community, as well as employment support.
A: 1 Thorpe Close, London W10 5XC
T: 020 8960 3722
E: registrations@voluntarywork.org.uk
Workplace Mental Health Support Service
Free, confidential service delivered by Remploy, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions. It is available to any employees and apprentices with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work. Their role is support those that are absent from work or finding work difficult, to stay in, or return to their job. They offer:
- Nine months of work focused mental health support, matched to the clients needs
- Suitable coping strategies
- A support plan to help people stay in, or return to work
- Workplace adjustments
- Getting support from the employer, if the client would like
For those in work:
W: www.remploy.co.uk/mentalhealth
T: 0300 456 8114
E: va2wmhss@remploy.co.uk
For apprentices:
W: www.remploy.co.uk/mentalhealthforapprentices
T: 0300 456 8210
E: apprentices@remploy.co.uk
DirectMe.org 