THOMAS is a delivery partner in the Changing Futures project in Lancashire. Changing Futures is part of the nationwide Building Better Opportunities programme, funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and The National Lottery Community Fund to help tackle the poverty and social exclusion faced by the most disadvantaged people in England.

The Changing Futures project is focussed on supporting people facing multiple and complex barriers to employment. All participants are unemployed or economically inactive and are at high risk of social exclusion, such as people from BAME communities, people with physical or mental health problems and people with learning difficulties.

Through the Changing Futures project, our partners work with each participant as an individual. Our Transformational Coaches help each participant to understand their own abilities, skills and interests to identify ways to help address their multiple barriers to economic activity.
Within 3 years, the Changing Futures partnership aims to support 1000 people over the age of 15 to overcome multiple and complex barriers and move closer to employment, education or training. We are proud to be part this specialist partnership of social enterprises and community organisations whose work is transforming lives across Lancashire.

Our partnership’s most recent quarterly results show that Changing Futures has already supported 867 people with multiple and complex barriers to work. As a direct result of the support received from this project, 85 people have overcome the challenges they were facing and are now employed, self-employed or in training.
For more information about the Changing Futures project please contact:
james.richardson@thomasonline.org.uk