200+ referrals have been received and 88 people have been supported by the Communities for Work Plus project in Ceredigion in its first 12 months. The project began in April 2018 with two Mentors and an Employer Liaison Officer. They support people to improve their employability skills. This should, in turn, help them either get employment or get better-paid employment.
Communities For Work Plus is a Welsh Government funded project, delivered by Ceredigion County Council which supports individuals in or at risk of poverty, aged 16 or over, across Ceredigion and throughout Wales. Participants may be experiencing in-work poverty, unemployment, living on minimum wage or struggling to pay basic monthly outgoings on sporadic zero hour contracts.
Mentors provide 1:1 support for participants with writing CV’s, undertaking mock interviews, up-skilling and funding a wide variety of training including help with starting up their own business. The team are looking forward to building on this success for the next 12 months to help residents of Ceredigion find employment and to reduce poverty.
One participant said, “I want to thank you and your team for helping me through this and of course funding it! Huge thanks to my mentor for putting up with me. She's been brilliant. I am able to support my family now that I have regained my confidence and have secured a regular income after being out of work for a while.”
With the support of the project, 22 people have entered employment and others have entered volunteering placements, paid work opportunities or training. Training courses range from First Aid qualifications, retail or healthcare, construction safety cards and even HGV driver training.
Councillor Catrin Miles, Cabinet member with responsibility for Learning Services and Lifelong Learning said, “The project can help to source volunteering opportunities, paid work experience placements, employment opportunities and have good contacts with local employers. Support extends to people who are ‘in work poverty’ so if you are looking at improving your skills to enable you to get a better-paid job, then Communities For Work Plus could help you.”
If you think the project may be able to help you or if you would like more information, contact the team on 01545 574193 or email cfwp@ceredigion.gov.uk.
In addition, get in touch if you are an employer and have any opportunities for participants to undertake work experience or a paid work opportunity (funded by Communities For Work Plus).
12/07/2019