Bridge Northumberland is now closed for referrals. The questions below were frequently asked during the programme.

No, your benefits won’t be affected.

You’ll be given one to one support from a dedicated Bridge Worker who will be your point of contact. Together you will create a personalised support programme of interventions such as mental health counselling, a financial MOT, digital skills training, advice and job search help.

You need to be aged between 16 and 67, living in Northumberland and not in work, education or training.

The support is for 6 to 9 months.

No, the programme is run through one to one appointments with your Bridge Worker either by phone, or face to face where government advice allows us to do so. You may also have appointments with other organisations we work with. We can help you to sign up to training and courses you can attend, but the Bridge programme is not a course itself.

It is not mandatory, meaning you are not forced to take part in this project, it’s completely voluntary and free.

You will decide who you want your information shared with, this is within and outside of the partnership.  All information about you is stored confidentially and securely on password protected systems and not shared with any other agency without your permission or in case of a safeguarding issue or criminal activity. (Link to data protection of NCVA)

There is no set minimum however we would expect your Bridge worker to speak to you once a week

Yes attendance is flexible however if appointments have been booked in we would ask that you give your Bridge worker notice to cancel so that someone else can have that appointment.

No. All travel expenses will be reimbursed. We would need to have a copy of the receipt so that we can reimburse you.

We can support you via telephone calls, text, email and video calls if you have the IT technology. If this is not good for you we can arrange to meet in a place where you are comfortable. This could be a coffee shop, Library or park.

We will support you by liaising with specialist services in your area that can also support you

For Bridge to support you moving forward we would expect to keep in touch with you on a weekly basis.

No, you will not be put under any pressure and will be supported throughout your contact to only do things you agree to. Your Bridge Worker may encourage you to try things outside your comfort zone, such as attend coaching sessions or learning some basic IT skills but there will never be any pressure if you don’t wish to do it.

Yes, we understand everyone on the programme will be facing barriers or difficult personal circumstances that affect how much they can be involved. We have lots of experience in helping people with such issues and are very willing to help and support you.

We do have a missed three appointments in a row without cancelling or explanation and we will close your account down. This is to allow others to have the opportunity for support.

No, although we may sometimes be able to get grants to help pay for things like a mobile phone or data.

Yes, we offer support with finances and advice on housing and understand these are often major barriers to people getting into a job. We can’t promise we’ll ‘fix’ these problems, but we will do our best to help you sort them out.

No, you will be encouraged, supported and helped, but never pressured.

No, leaving the project will not affect your benefits.

The programme will continue providing the service to those taking part until the end of March 2023 when funding from the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund comes to an end.

Bridge Northumberland’s approach of tackling the barriers to employment has succeeded in engaging unemployed and economically inactive people, achieving targets, and delivering social and economic benefits. This success and the continued need to improve employability throughout Northumberland makes a strong case for continuing the approach in future programmes.