National award nomination for member of Forward’s Restart team

Forward Trust was celebrating the fact that one of colleagues has been shortlisted for a national award.

Kirsty Langely, ReStart Scheme Employment Advisor, has been announced as a finalist for Frontline Advisor of the Year award at the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) Awards 2023.

The category recognises staff and trainers who have shown exceptional commitment working with their caseload in terms of moving people into jobs with opportunities and career prospects and providing in-work support.

Kirsty came to Forward’s employability team having started out as an administrator when she was joined the newly mobilised ReStart team and associated contract Forward holds in partnership with Reed in the Home Counties.

Kirsty’s personal development has been acknowledged by all those around her – where since starting (in 2021) Kirsty supported 136 people into work – with 94% of those supported still in the same job after four months.

At the same time, she has helped settle in new Employment Advisors, providing them with training to familiarise themselves with contract quality and compliance.

The Restart Scheme helps people claiming Universal Credit who have been out of work for at least 12 months to find jobs in their local area.

People that present to Restart may have had previous history of recovering from addiction, those escaping domestic abuse, cycles of crime and risk of cross county lines.

Access to this service if you:

• Are claiming Universal Credit; and
• Have been out of work for 12 months; and
• Live in Thanet, Kent