A Newham-based charity will be hosting a free employment and enterprise fair organised by unemployed people to counter the negative stereotypes of programmes such as Benefits Street.
Among the confirmed speakers is East Ham MP Stephen Timms, Shadow Minister for Employment, and Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham
Exhibitors at the free event, which will be held at East Ham Town Hall in Barking Road, East Ham on Friday, include Barts NHS Trust, BT Apprenticeships, London City Airport, John Lewis and the Metropolitan Police
Around 30 people from two local volunteer organisations, Volunteers for Change and Stand Up and Be Counted have taken on the responsibility of organising the Fair including marketing, communications and administration roles and meeting and greeting on the day.
More than 1000 people are expected to attend the event which will give them a chance to meet employers, attend sessions on CV-writing, interview techniques, skills improvement, get advice from industry experts and hear inspirational personal stories from case studies. There will also be an opportunity to attend taster sessions run by Links 2 Enterprise.
The Employment and Enterprise Fair model will be rolled out across east London and eventually the other quadrants of the capital, empowering the unemployed to find ways of helping themselves. Waltham Forest has expressed an interest in being the next host borough.
The Fair runs from 11am to 5pm and is free for all. For more information about the event, email etl@community-links.org or call 020 8548 2333.
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