A successful Job Club in Cranleigh, whose meeting place is funded by Waverley Borough Council, is set to help those looking for a job in the borough for a third year running.
The Cranleigh Job Club was set up in January 2022 by local resident Paul Lynch to help job seekers with essentials such as job searches, careers advice, creating CVs and preparing for interviews.
Run by Paul along with a highly experienced facilitator Kate Walker, the small, friendly group meets in Rowleys Community Centre, Cranleigh fortnightly on Mondays between 7-9pm.
Since setting up in 2022, around 100 local people have reached out to the club, 76 attending one or more meetings, 28 of these from the Ukrainian community. The majority are now settled in new jobs.
The feedback overall has been very positive. One such job seeker commented:
'I started the Job Club in April, gained my first interview in May and after several interviews got my first job offer in June. You will get guidance and advice for career development, skills analysis and most importantly group support from all members in a friendly and comfortable environment in the Cranleigh Job Club!’
Councillor Liz Townsend BEM, Waverley Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economic Development, says:
“We are happy to announce that for the third consecutive year, we have offered funding to support the Cranleigh Job Club. Paul and his team play a crucial role in the community, not only helping job seekers with practical assistance such as CV writing and interview preparation but also offering a safe space for people to come together and share experiences. We wish them all the best for another successful year empowering those in the borough to find their next, or even first, role.”
When he heard that Waverley Borough Council were generously funding the fortnightly meetings for 2024, Paul Lynch, commented:
“Kate and I were delighted that we can continue our efforts for a third year. Searching for a new job can be daunting and a lonely experience. The Cranleigh Job Club provides a welcoming and comfortable environment for people to come together and share their ideas, frustrations, and successes. We are looking forward to helping more job seekers over the next twelve months.”
The next meeting takes place on the 19 February 2024. For further details, you can email cranleighjobclub@gmail.com.
For employment support and advice across the borough, you can visit the Waverley Business website.
Image: Paul Lynch from Cranleigh Job Club, Cllr Liz Townsend and Kate Walker, Cranleigh Job Club