Personal Best Programme

Londoners are being offered a stepping stone into work via a groundbreaking training programme linked to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

 'Personal Best' will help around 7,000 people to gain their first qualification through borough based classes and individual support.

They will also build self esteem through work experience and gain transferable jobs skills through a nationally recognised qualification in volunteering.

The Personal Best programme has been developed to do all these things based on the approach first developed for the XVII Commonwealth Games held in Manchester in 2002.

It is aimed helping unemployed people or those who have little or no qualifications by providing them with a stepping stone into work, further employment or volunteering.

 The Personal Best programme is led by the London Development Agency (LDA) and in partnership with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and JobCentre Plus. Personal Best is part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF).

Personal Best uses the appeal of the London 2012 Games to reach out to communities. Closer to the time, graduates will be guaranteed an interview as part of the application process to become a 2012 Games Delivery Volunteer, with up to 10% of volunteers coming from the Personal Best Programme.

Achievements so far

The Personal Best programme was originally trialled successfully in 11 boroughs, with over 800 Londoners taking part. The majority finished the programme by the end of 2008 – in November their achievements were celebrated alongside Olympians and Paralympians at a ceremony in Wembley Stadium.

 The full pan-London roll out of Personal Best will soon be completed – as of July 2009, the programme is already being offered in 27 of London's boroughs.

Personal Best also offers volunteering placements which reflect some of the skills required for the 2012 Games. Opportunities have included stewarding at the Royal Parks Half Marathon, the Torch Relay, the Boat Race and other sporting and entertainment events

Participants have also worked at Wembley Stadium events including the Madonna concert and the Princess Diana Memorial concert.

How do you qualify for Personal Best?

You are likely to be eligible to join the programme if you satisfy the following criteria;

• unemployed: and
• not already in accredited training; and
• eligible to work in the EU; and
• are at entry level 2 or above in literacy skills but not hold a full level 2 qualification

Personal Best also targets specific groups including lone parents and BAME through promotion of the programme.

Further information:

Personal Best Advisers are in post across London Boroughs and can offer information and advice on the programme. If you require any further details please, in the first instance please visit the Personalbestprogramme website.

Alternatively, any member of the public interested in Personal Best Programme should email: personalbest@lda.gov.uk or call the LDA on tel: 0207 593 9000