BQVB 2008 - Network for the integration of the disadvantaged into the labour market

The project

In the rural area of Biberach several institutions in the area of education and employment aligned in the year 2000 with one another to  form a regional network called “Qualifizierungs- und Beschäftigungsverbund Biberach (BQVB)” (Network for Qualification and Employment). Aim was the implementation of a common, region-wide project under the European Social Fund Objective 3. Since then this successful project has been executed each year - with varying focal points and goals. The goal of the project is to create an effective offer for qualification and integration assistance. This includes a consistent  bundling of assistance programmes and also of qualification to create and support employability. It is important to us, that among those who are helped are people who cannot be placed in the primary labour market. This group includes the long-term unemployed, recipients of  unemployment benefit II  (”Hartz 4”), the unemployed with migration backgrounds and language difficulties as well as those with drug addiction problems or the homeless. The focal point of our work is the consistent networking of activities of the projects’ partners. The following 4 sub-projects take place in the current funding period.

“Second Chance” is a sub-project offered by the Diakonie in co-operation with the  Wohnungslosenhilfe Biberach e.V. (i.e., Help for the Homeless, a registered association).
This service is aimed at the long-term unemployed, recipients of social support, persons with migration backgrounds and the homeless. They learn tasks such as simple administrative duties, apartment renovation and relocation or participate in a hands-on training in the Diakonie-shop as well as in local undertakings. Simultaneously they receive assistance and guidance through social-pedagogical specialists, who help find solutions for a dichotomy of  problems these people face: familial, house-hunting. Credit counselling is offered as well.

”Cafe Kumm“ of Verein für soziale Heimstätten e.V. Dornahof Altshausen. Principally women with little or no qualification, many single parents are engaged in the project. They can gain experience in the field of gastronomy and catering in real-life situations in a professional environment. Furthermore the possibility of taking part in a hands-on training in companies in the primary labour market exists. Social-pedagogical supervision is a part of this sub-project as well.

“QuBe – Qualification and Support” of the Kolping Training Centre Riedlingen.
The participants of the sub-projects “Second Chance” and ”Cafe Kumm“ will receive precisely tailored encouragement which includes individual encouragement, social-paedagogical attendance and advisory service in collaboration between the participants and the project partners. The main focus is on female migrants to improve a sustainable integration in the labour market.

“ALoA – Working and Living without Alcohol” of the bfz gGmbH Biberach.
This project is targeted at long-term unemployed with alcoholic disease. Aim is a permanent abstinence of the participants as well as the re-entry into the normal course of professional life. This requires a close collaboration between employees of the Social-Medical Service, health insurance funds, detoxification hospitals and the regional centres of the employment service centres. Within the frameworkof an increasing quantity of classes the participants will be customised stepwise with the pressure of daily working life. Simultaneously two traineeships offer the possibility of gaining working experience and seek to reduce placement barriers of the participants.

Through the industry of the network much success was experienced in restoring stability to the lives of disadvantaged people and in helping them re-enter the labour market in the past years. The placement quota is approximately 20%. This may seem humble, however, in light of extremely difficult personal situations of the participants, we consider this a success.