New Blaenavon Community Hub Launched To Boost Employment Skills

A new community hub that offers employment support to the local community has opened in Blaenavon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The hub, which is run by the European Social Fund (ESF) projects Bridges into Work 2 and Working Skills for Adults 2 (WSFA), is located in the Melin Academy on Ivor Street – behind the Cooperative store. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A team is available to help job seekers gain new skills, build their confidence, and improve employment opportunities, the team also help those already in work to improve their workplace skills. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Support on offer includes one to one help with CVs, job searching, career advice and access to free training. Vocational courses such as food hygiene, first aid, health and safety skills and transferable skills such as literacy and numeracy, confidence building, IT and other formal qualifications are also available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Additional support for those facing barriers to working, such as health conditions, childcare needs and transport is also available. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Parsons, 28 from Blaenavon, currently works as a delivery driver and is using the service to further his skills. He said: “I am working with the team to get extra training and skills. I am hopefully going to be doing my forklift driver license and possibly other qualifications, such as manual handling and health and safety, that will help me progress in my career.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Angela Shirlow, BIW and WSFA project manager said “I am delighted that we have set up this community hub up in Blaenavon. The hub will enable people to access support, gain the skills and the confidence to improve their chances of finding work, or learn new skills for the workplace that can help employed people sustain their employment or increase their earning potential. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We ensure that our community hubs meet the individual’s needs, as well providing a supportive group environment. Through this approach, we will provide the best opportunities for people to succeed.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The hub is open every Tuesday evening from 4:30pm until 6:30pm, and Wednesday morning from 9:30am until 12pm. No appointment is necessary and walk-ins are welcome. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​