Name: Minaz
Job Title: Neighbourhood Engagement Team
How long have you worked at Jigsaw Homes? 21 years!
Describe your ‘typical’ day at work: My role is varied each day and includes working with stakeholders and partners within my allocated “Neighbourhood plan RED area” to better engage local residents and community groups in trying to achieve long term and sustainable outcomes, by way of running projects such as cook and eat, training sessions, work clubs, gardening groups and offering energy advice, to name a few. These projects are a way of tackling issues within the community such as children/pensioners in poverty, social isolation, mental health and wellbeing and employment and skills. The reactive part of the role is investigating Environmental improvements, dealing with fly tipping and waste issues within neighbourhoods and running themed events at sheltered schemes.
Which aspects of the job really get you motivated? Seeing the impact that the projects we run make to peoples lives is very rewarding. We have been heavily involved in delivering food parcels and food provision to the most vulnerable throughout the previous year and will continue to work closely with the many food hubs within our communities.
What are the greatest challenges? Still trying to engage with communities and run projects without the face to face contact and personal touch. Many of our residents lack confidence when it comes to IT so engagement virtually has not proven to be the best channel of communication for some. As a team we have had to think outside the box and tailor projects and plans to still try to reach out to the people most in need by being innovative in our approach.
What has/have been the highlight(s) of your role to date? Setting up breakfast clubs at a number of primary schools within the neighbourhoods, which have proven to improve pupil attendance and punctuality, concentration in classes, better behaviour and strengthen the relationships between children and their teachers. Many children attend school without a breakfast and we have learned just how valuable they are to the wellbeing of school children.