St Just and Pendeen Work Skills Pilot Project
The Community Employment Programme
Partners:
Work Skills Training Academy, Cornwall College
Job Centre Plus,
Cornwall Rural Community Council
Local community, Local venue representatives and local employers.
Intention of the Community Employment Programme:
The Community Employment Programme is designed to help the disadvantaged and long term unemployed to get back to work by gaining employability skills through training. We are looking to bring the furthest from the job market to employment by bringing work opportunities to people eager to work but who are often excluded due to lack of skills, confidence and transport.
We are going to involve local community organisations and mentors within the community who are willing to support and offer guidance to the learners.
We will be inviting local businesses to view the project and to give us guidance as we intend to tailor courses to meet the local employer needs.
By using work activities, linked to employers’ needs, delivered by experienced qualified trainers of the Work Skills Training Academy, Cornwall College it is intended that the learner will be better equipped to find local employment or volunteering opportunities.
Working together the Job Centre Plus, Cornwall College, Cornwall Rural Community Council and the community will provide a real opportunity to help people on out-of-work benefits with opportunities to train, gain experience and demonstrate their personal strengths to enable them to come off benefits and into work. Long term unemployment is damaging to individuals and communities. It affects mental and physical health and holds back economic growth.
The Pilot Project
It is intended that the pilot project will be delivered in St Just, Penwith. Unemployment in the Penwith area is currently high and in particular amongst the young people and women. Training and projects will be delivered from a community venue in St Just.
Job Centre Plus Penzance, Work Skills Training Academy Cornwall College, Cornwall Rural Community Council (CRCC) and community representatives of St Just are determined to deliver this scheme.
The Scheme:
Work Skills Training Academy, Cornwall College, Cornwall Rural Community Council and the Job Centre Plus have an established working relationship. The partnership has been recognised and awarded for its innovative delivery in Cornwall (Cornwall Works Wise Awards 2013). It is intended that the current model is quickly moved to a venue in St Just and clients of the Job Centre are given training, work experience and employability skills.
Future Projects will include:
- Restoration of furniture and sale at affordable prices targeted at those in need.
- Advice and training on self-employment, provided by Cornwall College Business. The creation of self-employment opportunities – grass cutting, basic house maintenance and repair for example.
- Skills in hospitality – linked to local employers’ needs
- Skills in care – linked to local employers’ needs
- Skills in construction – CSCS and work on community venues to obtain construction qualifications, experience and potential for a reference.
- Growing, selling and cooking own food
- Wheels to Work Project – enabling people to get to work
- Bicycle repair and sale (affordable Xmas presents).
- Outboard motor repair and maintenance (service provision)
- Lawn mower and strimmer repair and maintenance (service provision) and training and qualifications in all of the above.
Why would local businesses be involved?
- An opportunity to raise their profile through advertising and sponsoring.
- An opportunity to recruit local employees with tailored training to meet their needs.
- An opportunity to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility and to encourage, mentor and motivate others.
- An opportunity to gain from the service of a work placement volunteer.
- An opportunity to engage with Cornwall College Business Team and the Apprenticeship Programme – potential grant for employing a long term unemployed individual.
Why would community organisations be involved?:
- An opportunity to recruit like-minded individuals from the wider community to their project and to benefit from new volunteers and ideas.
- An opportunity to raise the profile of their community organisation.
- An opportunity to demonstrate an inclusive social conscience.
- An opportunity to benefit from the labour and participation of the learners whilst they gain skills and qualifications eg property repair and maintenance on the Construction CSCS course and hospitality training at lunch clubs or coffee mornings.
- An opportunity to work with other community groups and employers.
For more information or to express an interest in participation:
Mr Stephen Maunder
Business Development Manager
Work Skills Training Academy
Cornwall College
stephen.maunder@cornwall.ac.uk
Tel: 07717544247
Rachel Cruddace Tel: 01726 226661