In this issue... Stories from our Service Users A fun Christmas Quiz A message from James An interview with ‘Skool is out’ Upcoming Events

Dear Readers, Welcome to our latest Winter edition of Real Jobs Newsletter. As the winter season is in its full swing, the Real Jobs team found some interesting events some of you might be interested in attending. In this issue we celebrate lots of great successes from our Service Users. Some celebrations were held for longest serving employees, including a very special retirement party. You will also find examples of the work we do with employers which is vital to our Service Users’ successes. Real Jobs team are also in the middle of evaluating the service we delivered to you this year and would like to thank all of you who have told us what their experiences have been of working with us this last year. Please contact us if you would like to share your opinions on Real Jobs. So far, we helped contribute to an especially high number of paid full time jobs for our Service Users this year. This is all down to the incredible employers we work with, our highly motivated team as well as the hard work of our Service Users. Finally I would like to wish Dominika all the best for her new journey into parenthood and welcome Leigh Baird as her replacement as well as congratulating the 3 employment advisors in their new roles. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed to another fantastic year at Real Jobs. I hope you enjoy the festive season and I look forward to working with you in the New Year.

Merry Christmas from the Real Jobs Team

James Wilson Development Manager

Spot the ball Have a look at the photos below and see if you can see where

the ball should be. Mark an ‘X’ on the spot where you think it will be and then look at page 12 for the answers!

Employment Advisor Martin’s dog is

jumping for joy for his ball

Employment Advisor Innes is practicing

his skills at this years Learning

Disability Festival in the

Meadows

1. Which city did The Miracle on 34th Street take

place? _____________________________________ 2. Who wrote the famous song we sing every New

Year, ‘Auld Lang Syne’? ____________________________________ 3. Where does Santa live? ____________________________________ 4. What is the word ‘Christmas’ in French? ___________________________________ 5. Where is the biggest New Years Eve street party in

Europe? ________________________________ 6. How many spirits are in ‘A Christmas Carol’?

________________________________

Fun Festive Quiz

Staff changes Our wonderful manager Dominika is leaving us for a while to have her baby! Very exciting. Even more exciting, is we have a new manager! Her name is Leigh. If anyone would like to speak to Leigh then please call the office, or ask your Employment Advisor. Leigh is looking forward to meeting all our clients. We are also sad to be saying goodbye to three more Employment Advisors. Martin is moving away to live on an island, Stacey is going to work at Capital City Partnership for a year, and Lisa is staying at The Action Group but in a different role, also for a year. Good luck to everyone in their new jobs!

Christmas Market Here you can experience the best of Edinburgh over the Festive period. You can go ice skating in the gardens, sample the best German food and drink, buy products from many local and national business’ and have a shot of the fair ground rides. The Christmas market runs for six weeks starting on Friday 17th November www.edinburghschristmas.com

New Year Party! Edinburgh, once again, invites the biggest and best acts from all over the world to bring in 2018 here in the capital city. This year the main stage will host pop and soul sensation Rag ‘N’ Bone Man. Alongside the concert in the Gardens there will also be the yearly torch procession and fireworks display! www.edinburghshogmanay.com

Loony Dook! This is an event held on New Years' Day in which people dive into the freezing waters of the Firth of Forth at South Queensferry in fancy dress. Why not get down to North Queensferry, and have a freezing cold swim to welcome in the New Year! www.edinburghguide.com/events/loonydook

Festive Edinburgh 2017!

v

v

Service User Stories! Matthew wins an award!

Sean’s work

experience

Although Sean is at college full time, that doesn't stop him getting work experience and improving his CV. Sean has worked at Currys / PC World and John Lewis in the past and is continuing to get more work experience in Edinburgh. Sean had a great day working with the manager Nathan (pictured left) and his team at Starbucks to find out the challenges of working in a busy café. Sean had a great day and learned new skills that are continuing to help with his job search. Well done Sean!

Matthew (pictured Left) with head chief Gary, works for Sodexo and has done since leaving school. After starting work in the kitchen, Gary took Matthew under his wing. Gary, amongst other skills, taught Matthew to bake. 13 years later, Matthew thought it was time for him to move on, so started to look for another opportunity. He found another post with Sodexo at Drinks Giant, Diageo. Matthew and Gary teamed up again and they continued to work on his skills.

All the hard work has recently paid off when Matthew entered himself in a Scotland wide Diageo cooking competition. Matthew’s Empire Biscuits earned him a silver medal and his apple tart took home a merit award. Fantastic work Matthew!

Service User Stories!

David, after nearly 15 years of service at Tesco, retired in August this year. David has been collecting trolleys for nearly 15 years at the Tesco store at Colinton. It was a sad farewell from all the staff and customers at the store and David will be sorely missed. The place will not be the same without his cheerful greetings to all out in the car park and his wealth of football knowledge.

David thanked the Real Jobs team saying he was “Over the moon” when Real Jobs got him the job and thanked us for all the support he has been given over the years. Have a wonderful retirement and enjoy the football matches David!

DAVID

Congratulations On Your Retirement!

Alastair has reached a landmark at Marks & Spencer on Princes Street. He was presented with a £500 voucher for his fantastic length of service. Next spring, Alastair will be rewarded for his hard work with a night in London where he will attend a Marks & Spencer dinner followed by a night at the theatre. Well done Alastair from all at Real Jobs.

Alastair 25 years service

Bowling with Real Jobs

For our October friends group meeting we all headed to the bowling alley at the corn exchange. Dom, Greg, Elaine and Lisa

were joined by John, Douglas, Gordon, Magnus, James and Alistair for 2 games of ten pin bowling. We had a great time as everyone showed off their skills. When all was said and done it was clear to see that Gordon (pictured—centre, below) hit the highest score. Thanks to everyone for coming along it made a

great evening for everyone. Look out for our next friends groups meeting on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/actiongrouprealjobs

Friends of Real Jobs Meetings

Below are the dates and times for the upcoming meetings:

Wednesday 10th January: 6-8pm Monday 12th February: 5-7pm

Wed 14 March: 6-8pm Monday 12th April: 5-7pm Wednesday 14 May: 6-8pm

Monday 11th June: 5-7pm

All our service users are welcome to attend—if you would like more information about the group or what to expect, talk to your Employment Advisor.

Employability Hub

Below are the dates for upcoming workshops:

18th January 1st February, 14th February

All courses are on a Thursday between 14.30—15.30

Please speak to your employment advisor about our brand new Employability Hub.

Two Employment Advisors will work with a group, that allows service users to share their experiences of working, volunteering

and training. Come along and work on your personal development to support

the goal of getting into work!

'Skool is out' is a business offering out of school care and school holiday clubs, for children in the Marchmont

and Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh. Recently we interviewed Linda, to find out how they are getting on with one of their newest members of staff, Real Jobs

service user, Robbie.

"Robbie is enthusiastic, willing to help and has an instant rapport with the children. His positive attitude definitely rubs off on the staff! Robbie always works alongside other members of the team, building good relationships. Employing Robbie at out After School Club has made us think about our training and how we support our team of staff. We have recently improved our new employees induction process to be less overwhelming, more thorough and gradual, giving each a more tailored personal plan. Having had time to work with Robbie and engage more with Lisa, Robbie's employment Advisor, we felt this was a change that our new employees would benefit from. With Lisa's help we have found new ways of working that suit Robbie and make him feel valued and allow him to work as a productive member of our team. Having worked closely with Lisa, experiencing Robbie's different and unique way of working, we have already employed another member of staff with additional support needs. Lisa has given both us as a company, and Robbie, good support and has always been there to support Robbie and to assist us in his training. Her social storyboards are now even avail-able to our team to use as a quick training tool for everyone. The children think Robbie is "awesome" and "ace". He has also demonstrated a natural way of supporting and building confidence in the children. Robbie is very much looking forward to joining us all for our Christmas night out at Dynamic Earth." - Linda

Real Jobs Do you know someone who would like help to find a job? Would they like to use the Real Jobs service? It is really easy to refer someone to us. You can email us, call us, or ask your Employment Advisor.

Real Jobs offer Disability Equality Training for employees and employers. We can come to your workplace and train your staff, or you can attend one of our training events. If you are an employer, and would like to arrange a session, please call us on 0131 475 2315 or email realjobs@actiongroup.org.uk

REMEMBER TO STAY SAFE THIS CHRISTMAS

Thank you to our funders

The Action Group Norton Park Centre

57 Albion Road Edinburgh EH7 5QY

0131 475 2315 www.actiongroup.org.uk

realjobs@actiongroup.org.uk

Quiz Answers

1. New York

2. Robert Burns

3. Lapland

4. Noël

5. Edinburgh

6. Four (Past, present, yet to

come & Jacob Marley)

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from everyone at Real Jobs!

Spot the ball Answers

Christmas and New Year The office will be closed from the 22nd December through to the 3rd January. Any calls made to the office during this time will be picked up through the messaging service. Any urgent issues will be dealt with during this time. Happy holidays!