CnaG launches the 2013 Students’ Summer Placement Scheme
Issued by CnaG
Up to 25 students will have the opportunity to spend the summer months working on the Comunn na Gàidhlig (CnaG) Summer Placement Scheme.
CnaG today has announced that it will be providing up to 25 Gaelic-speaking students with the opportunity to participate in the scheme, working with businesses and organisations, often based in their own communities, which work through the medium of Gaelic,.
The scheme, which has been operating very successfully for the past 11 years, gives students an insight into the roles of different Gaelic organisations and businesses, an opportunity to improve their Gaelic fluency and also an opportunity to gain experience of being in the workplace. The scheme also provides them with income.
As well as the obvious benefits to the students, the scheme can also be of great benefit to employers who are able to take advantage of the students’ skills over the summer months to the benefit of their business. The scheme also enables employers to assess students who will be graduating in the near future with a view to future recruitment.
Donald MacNeill, Chief Executive of Comunn na Gàidhlig, said, ’’We are proud of this scheme and are delighted that we have the opportunity to run it again this year. We recognise the benefits that the students get from the scheme through improving their Gaelic skills and the opportunity to pick up different skills in the workplace. We are grateful to Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, The Highland Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for funding the scheme.’’
Neil Ross, Head of Community Growth at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) said, ’’This opportunity supports deliver of HIE’s priorities around strengthening communities. It helps maintain and increase the number of young people living and working in rural areas. It also provides young people with a chance to develop relationships with local employers, and enables opportunities of future employment.”
Councillor John A MacIver, Chairman of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Gaelic Plan Implementation Committee said, ’’This is a scheme which has successfully given employment and training to young people in their own communities over many years. It is essential for us in the Western Isles to have business groups which are so supportive of the scheme. We recognise the benefits for the students, in relation to giving them experience of the workplace and increasing self-confidence both in communication skills in Gaelic and how they operate in a working environment. It is also very helpful to the employers that they have knowledge of the various skills that the young people have, particularly those who will be graduating in the near future.”
Students who would like to take part in this year’s scheme should send an application form to, Comunn na Gàidhlig, 5 Mitchells Lane, Inverness. IV2 3HQ by 9 March 2013. For further information, and to download an application form, please go to http://www.cnag.org
Businesses and organisations which work through the medium of Gaelic and wish to participate in the scheme should contact CnaG at the Inverness office. Telephone: 01463 234138 and E-mail: oifis@cnag.org
The 2013 Student Summer Placement Scheme is funded by Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Highland Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and administered by Comunn na Gàidhlig.
ENDS