Overview
This report summarises feedback from ten conversation sessions held by two community organisations in West Somerset, Hayley’s Williton CIC and Minehead Eye.
A total of 29 community members took part.
Each session explored three questions:
- What helps people to find, stay in, or return to work?
- What makes it difficult for people to find, stay in, or return to work?
- What can employers or support organisations do to help people find, stay in, or return to work?
How we analysed the feedback
We analysed the feedback by identifying themes that came up repeatedly across the sessions.
This analysis was done separately from the wider Breaking Barriers report because this work had a narrower focus. However, what we heard overlaps strongly with themes and sub themes in the main report, including barriers to work, the need for supportive workplaces, and skills and training.
Many issues, such as transport and flexible working, cut across more than one theme of the Breaking Barriers Report, such as Barriers to Work and Need for Supportive Workplaces.
The three themes identified from analysis of feedback were:
Transport
- Public and Private Transport
Respect and recognition
- Recruitment
- Wages
Support and skills
- Recruitment
- Childcare and housing availability
- Understanding of healthcare challenges
- Digital inclusion
- Tailored support
- Signposting and development
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the community organisations and individuals who made this project possible.
Thank you to the following community organisations who coordinated and had conversations with individuals.
- Minehead Eye
- Hayley’s Williton CIC
Finally, thank you to all 29 community individuals who took part. We are extremely grateful for your time and sharing your experiences.
This project was funded by Somerset Council Economy, Workforce and Skills and the Somerset Integrated Care Board (ICB). The views of participants do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.
