Employability projects receive funding boost
Members of the PED Committee have approved funding for six projects aimed at improving the employability of people by providing positive learning and supported work activity.
Funding has come from The Highland Council’s 2011/12 Strategic Employability Projects Fund.
The six successful projects are:
• £35,000 to The Springboard Charity to provide in depth pre-employment training, work experience and post employment support to young and disadvantaged people;
• £35,000 to Ness Soaps social enterprise project to provide training and support to clients;
• £32,645 to Rag, Tag N Textile to create permanent jobs, training and voluntary placements for vulnerable adults with mental health issues up-cycling waste materials for retail;
• £21,070 to Abriachan Forest Trust to run Skills for a Future courses in partnership with APEX and NHS, providing physical challenges to build social and workplace skills;
• £4,975 to the Celtic Fringe tourism Association to work with 8 pupils and 4 disengaged young people to promote careers in tourism through local training, practical experience and work placements.
The Committee Members also approved in principle a further £48,600 for a project put forward by the Calman Trust to support young homeless people by providing a range of services including work related training, vocational learning and work placements.
Chairman of the Planning, Environment and Development Committee, Councillor Ian Ross said: “The successful projects all have great merit and focus their resources on helping vulnerable people including young people, people with a learning disability or people recovering from mental health issues. As well as receiving support from the Council, the projects will also be receiving Partner funding and are examples of how close joint working can optimise the benefits for the people we are trying to help.
“For many people having an opportunity to take part in supported work projects can really improve their long term work prospects. It also helps to build up confidence and empowers people. Learning or brushing up on important life and social skills can really make a difference in the workplace and in everyday lives.”
In January Members of the Committee agreed the criteria, processes and timescales for inviting project proposals. In total 17 applications were received. Three projects, although unsuccessful for the Strategic Employability Projects Fund, were considered eligible for Deprived Area Funding and the organizations involved have been advised their applications have been referred to this alternative source of funding.
The three projects are:
Pulteneytown People’s Project - £51,771 to create training and job opportunities; . Merkinch Enterprise - £15,000 to run community training for the unemployed; Milton Community Woodland Trust - £15,451 to develop vocational life skills for vulnerable people.