Clear Up Team Back Ground.
The Clear Up Teams are a partnership project run by OHIP, First Choice Homes, West Pennine Housing Association and Training into Employment. The team are funded from 6 different funding sources: SRB4, SRB6, NDC, ESF, ERDF, and OHIP.
- The first Clear up Team was set up and started work in March 2000 and was funded through SRB4, and ESF.
- The NDC and an SRB6 team were established following the success of the SRB4 team and started work on the 6th August 2002.
- Each team consists of one full time supervisor, and 6 full time beneficiaries who are employed on 12 month contracts.
- The teams work in the Oldham area.
Aims of the Project.
'The aim of project is to address environmental degradation affecting excluded communities. The scheme will also provide an intermediate labour market for people with learning disabilities or other disabilities who are able to undertake manual labour.'
- Each team employs 6 full time team members with learning or other disabilities and a supervisor.
- The project offers team members training, support, and expert assistance in job search through Training into Employment.
- Team members work towards an NVQ level 1 in Amenity Horticulture whilst on the project.
- The team offer a gardening service to frail and elderly people who are unable to maintain their own gardens.
- The team clear up and tidy communal areas of land.
Resident's Feedback
On completion of a garden all residents are given customer satisfaction forms to complete so that we can monitor feedback on the service we provide.
100% of residents surveyed indicated that they are very satisfied with the service provided by our Clear Up Teams.
Resident's Comments
- 'Our garden was like a jungle and the men worked very hard to clear it. Thank you very much.'
- 'Good men. Thank You.'
- 'Nice. Hard working. Polite team of lads.'
- 'Great job, very well done.'
- 'A great help. Very polite.'
- 'Very good job, well appreciated for us old people.'
- 'I thought the lads worked very well.'
- 'I didn't expect them to do the weeding and then turn the soil over between the few plants I have, and also pull the weeds between the many flagstones.'
- 'I am delighted with the work they did, and so quick.'
Clean Up Team Job Facts
- 33 people have gained an ILM job through our Clear Up Team Projects.
- Of 11 people to complete the project, 10 have gained successful employment
- 2 team members left the project; destination Unknown. 1 person left the team before completing their 12 month contract.
- Only 3 people have been dismissed, which is a small number for an ILM project.
- 17 team members are currently employed on the project.
Teams Outputs
Over the last financial year the teams have maintained approximately 5.64 Hectares of communal land, maintained approximately 102 new local authority residents' gardens, and maintained 78 new housing association residents' gardens. They have also completed numerous repeat visits for general garden maintenance.