Natural Resources Wales Helps ‘Lift’ Long-Term Unemployed

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is supporting the Welsh Government’s Lift programme, by providing training and work experience for the long-term unemployed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sylvain Jacquin is NRW’s first Lift placement. He joins staff at NRW’s North East Wales office in Buckley, working as a fleet and facilities assistant for eight weeks. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sylvain’s duties include carrying out health and safety checks on NRW’s fleet vehicles and office buildings and providing other staff support services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Nearly 200 people have already been supported by the Lift programme in Flintshire, run by Communities First, with 54 of them successfully finding jobs after the scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By the end of 2017, the Welsh Government’s Lift programme aims to provide 5,000 training and employment opportunities for people living in households where no-one is in work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sylvain Jacquin said: “It’s good to get the opportunity to bring my computer skills up to speed in an office environment and supporting NRW staff in their work. I hope this placement will provide a valuable step towards future employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I’m also enjoying the social aspect of being in an office environment – something people probably take for granted. Along with the voluntary work that I do, I hope this placement will open up new career opportunities for me.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Over the next 18 months, NRW aims to provide 30 Lift placements Wales-wide. One is due to start in Bangor in the New Year, with others planned for Cardiff and Llandarcy. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Emyr Roberts, NRW Chief Executive said: “Working alongside our staff, I hope Sylvain – and the others that will join us over the coming months – will benefit from the training and work experience. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s an opportunity to gain new skills that will put them in a better position to find longer-term employment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Debbie Barker, Lift Mentor Flintshire said: “This is an excellent opportuntity for not only Sylvain but other Lift clients in Flintshire. Natural Resources Wales offers an excellent opportunity for clients, through training and work experience, within an exciting and informative environment. We look forward to our continued working relationship.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Welsh Government Secretary for Communities and Children, Carl Sargeant said: “The Lift Programme is a key part of our approach to tackle poverty in Wales, supporting some of our most disadvantaged households. I’m delighted that NRW is supporting the Programme by providing valuable training and work experience which will help participants move into employment.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Lift programme focuses on people living in households where no one has worked for at least six months and who face the greatest barriers to becoming employed. The programme is being delivered in nine areas across Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since its launch in March 2014, the Lift programme has already provided more than 3,900 training and employment opportunities, including 800 people supported into employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​