Convergence commentary
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New opportunities for young people
Two hundred unemployed young people in Cornwall are being helped get back into work at this time of great economic difficulties.
Cornwall Council is successfully delivering these positive outcomes using £1.3 million from the Future Jobs Fund, a £1 billion Government initiative to create jobs for unemployed 18-24 year olds, that runs until March 2011.
The project, Cornwall Works for Future Jobs, led by Cornwall Council and managed by Cornwall Development Company, delivers new, additional employment through a network of partner organisations and through the local authority itself. This follows on from the proven success of a pilot project which has seen 83 jobs created for young unemployed people across Cornwall since October 2009.
As Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for the Economy and Regeneration, said: “This is absolutely fantastic news for young people in Cornwall. We recognise how hard it can be for young people out there looking for real jobs to improve their future prospects and we are determined to do everything we can to help them.”
The jobs being created benefit the community in areas such as recycling and conservation.
Employers include: The National Lobster Hatchery, Citizens Advice Bureau, ReZolve Kernow (recycling), Groundwork South West, Volunteer Cornwall, Cornwall Foundation for Promise (Fifteen Cornwall) and many others.
Cornwall Works for Future Jobs works closely with Jobcentre Plus to ensure the right candidates are found for the jobs and provides learning and skills as a full package of work experience, training and qualifications.
The programme has attracted a wide variety of young people from all walks of life and is providing opportunities for real life changes, helping build aspirations and firm foundations for their future working lives.
Mark Clegg, Employment Development Manager at Groundwork South West said: “We are delighted to work on round two of Cornwall Works for Future Jobs with Cornwall Council. After a problem free round one in which the partnership worked very well and over achieved our initial targets we have already employed 20 Green Team Workers right at the start of round two putting us well ahead of schedule and will continue to work with Cornwall Council to deliver these vital jobs across Cornwall.”
Groundwork South West successfully recruited 25 Green Team Workers and 2 Support Workers in St. Austell (site at Wheal Martin owned by South West Lakes Trust) through Cornwall Council’s pilot round of Future Jobs Fund and a further 30 Green Team Workers are being recruited in Camborne (site at Rosewarne, Duchy College) through this second round of Cornwall Works for Future Jobs.
Groundwork offer a package of qualifications unique to Cornwall and in partnership with Cornwall College that includes maths and English levels 1 & 2 through Link Into Learning and a City & Guilds based qualification covering horticultural, agricultural and landscape skills together with conservation and land management.
Mark Kitchingham (Senior Supervisor for Cornwall) is “over the moon” with the successes so far and hopes that the Camborne site will be as successful as St. Austell, with 20 positions already filled Groundwork South West are well on their way.
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For more information on the scheme and to find out about opportunities to get involved please contact the Cornwall Works Hub office on 01872 355015.
Neil Robertson
Manager
Partnership Fund & Project Services
Cornwall Development Company
