Caerphilly Launches A Brand New Traineeship Programme

Caerphilly Council have launched a flagship programme to offer young people aged between 16 and 18 work placements in departments across the council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, Sally Holland was present at the official launch to welcome the first 5 trainees who have successfully gained a place on the Cynydd Progress Scheme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Jasmine Edwards, Josh Allen, Bretski Fergusson, Alex Pascoe and Dafydd Jones will join staff in Leisure, Procurement, Llancaiach Fawr and Facilities Management to gain valuable work experience whilst working towards a Level 1 qualification with the training organisations ACT and ITEC. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Before starting the work placement the young people will undergo an intensive work ready programme with the Council’s partners Llamau aimed to build their confidence and develop working skills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Scheme will primarily to support those young people leaving care offering career direction and guidance to those who have expressed an interest or are best suited to vocational training. The remaining places will be offered to those young people who are currently not in education, employment or training programmes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr. Keith Reynolds, said, “The Cynydd Progress Scheme is an impressive new initiative working to support those youngsters who are in our care to ensure they have opportunities to access qualifications and gain valuable work experience. As Corporate parents to these young people we feel it is our duty to guide and support them to achieve success.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sally Holland, The Children’s Commissioner for Wales, said, “Caerphilly council is a leading light in terms of supporting young people and should be commended for launching this new initiative. I look forward to seeing many more young people signing up to the scheme and I’m sure they will all benefit from the experience and opportunities that are on offer.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Funded by the European Social Fund and Welsh Government the trainees will be eligible to claim a weekly allowance of between £35 and £50 plus travel expenses. At the end of the placement ongoing support will be provided from the education provider and a Youth Mentor from the Communities First employment team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​