Portland Pathways, a community-focused initiative that aims to improve mental health and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, is opening a new hub in Kirkby, thanks to funding from Ashfield District Council.

As part of the Portland Charity group, Pathways provides free support to help people develop their skills, prepare for employment and manage their mental health.

Help offered includes through three pathways:

Rebuilding Mental Health is for people who sometimes feel worried, stressed or need to improve their confidence. In partnership with Inspire Learning, there are two Rebuild courses, held one day a week over five weeks. Customers can also be referred to its counselling service for free one-to-one sessions.

Preparation for Employment is for people who want to find work but don’t know where to start. Advisors support customers to assess their employability skills and needs, create a professional CV, search and apply for work, and prepare them for interviews.

Support for Employers helps local businesses to find the right candidates for their roles, and become more accessible workplaces.

Nikki Amirsaeedi, employment projects manager, said: “We have been supporting Kirkby residents since the service began in 2018, from our hubs in Sutton and Mansfield, but having a base in Kirkby Library, alongside our partners at Inspire, means more people can access us.”

The Ashfield District Towns Fund has awarded Portland Charity up to £180,000 to enable the service to expand into Kirkby. Pathways also has hubs in Sutton, Mansfield, Newark, and Worksop.

The new hub is open on Tuesdays and Fridays, from 9am to 4pm. People can contact Cheryl Levers, Ashfield Pathways advisor, on 01623 499193, or email [email protected] or [email protected]