TNG in Back Church Lane, Tower Hamlets is helping unemployed people to gain skills, gain confidence and move from benefits into employment.

The recent speed-dating session followed a motivational speech by Billy Schwer, former world champion welter weight boxer.

One such person TNG, a national welfare to work training provider, helped is Tung Lun Choi, 54, from Tower Hamlets. Tung Lun had been unemployed for over six months, when he first met with his TNG adviser, Terence Kemp.

Having worked as a chef for ten years, Tung Lun was experienced, but his lack of English skills had held him back. Desperate to improve his English and find work, Tung Lun enrolled on TNG’s English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme at Tower Hamlets.

Going to classes was a daunting prospect for Tung Lun, but he found the atmosphere friendly and encouraging, and not at all intimidating. With tailored support, he soon improved his English speaking, listening, reading and writing and completed his Entry 1 qualification.

While at TNG, Tung Lun also learned about completing application forms correctly, attended motivation sessions and improved his telephone and interview techniques. As he mixed with his classmates and developed new friendships, his confidence also grew.

Tung Lun has now successfully found work as a chef in Wai Chai restaurant in Chinatown. Tung Lun found that improving his English has helped him personally in all walks of life, not just professionally. He said, “I really enjoyed the classes at TNG, and improving my English has definitely helped me to find a job. TNG has helped in so many ways, as I made new friends, I have more confidence and everything from filling out forms to going to the supermarket is easier now, and I am continuing to improve my language skills every day.”

Tehmina Zaman, Manager at TNG said, “Tung Lun is a good example of the work that TNG does in Tower Hamlets. Tung Lun was clearly very experienced, and he is a talented chef. His problem was not being able to effectively communicate with potential employers, and that had affected his confidence. Having been on the ESOL course, he found filling in application forms and talking to employers so much easier. I’m looking forward to visiting his restaurant and tasting his food soon.”