Stefania Egei

Lancaster Gate resident Stefania Egei, 42, has lived in Westminster for eight years. When she found herself unemployed for 6 months, Westminster Works helped her find a new job as a supervisor in a Mayfair hotel.

Westminster Works is an initiative put together by the council and its partners Paddington Waterside Partnership, Vital Regeneration and Paddington Development Trust. They are helping thousands of job seekers to access training and long-term employment. Opportunities include six months job placements, two-week job trials and CV and interview workshops.

Stefania said: "Being without a job was a horrible feeling. When you’re going through a tough time a service like this really helps, because they help you develop a plan to get back into work. I’m a motivated person, but the service gave me an extra push; it keeps you focused and gives you the determination to keep looking. The Westminster Works advisers at Paddington First helped me improve my CV and apply for jobs online. I also took a computer course at Westminster's Marylebone library which kept me busy and helped me to gain important skills.”

Homeownership

First time buyers priced out of the housing market can take advantage of the free service 'Homeownership Westminster' to get on the property ladder.

The initiative, commissioned by the council and delivered by Catalyst Housing Group, provides information about specific property developments and assistance with registering interest for home ownership opportunities. Specialist advice such as affordability assessments and support via council services such as debt counselling are also available.

Catherine Dyer would like to buy a property in Soho so she can follow her dream of being a writer and freelance documentary film maker., She is currently living on friends’ floors, but said: "I’m looking for a more permanent base. I have an office on Wardour Street and would like to live near it. It’s an expensive area and as a single person looking for a home can be daunting. Homeownership Westminster has been really useful. An adviser spent an hour with me explaining the options. You get help with things such as working out how much you need to pay each month and this helps you make informed decisions."

If you are a first time buyer or have not owned a home for the past two years, and live or work in Westminster, visit www.homeownershipwestminster.co.uk for details. To find out more about opportunities in Westminster, call 0845 437 9701.