Project To Tackle Long Term Unemployment Launched In Torfaen

A project that aims to tackle poverty through sustainable employment has been launched in Torfaen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Communities for Work is a voluntary programme supported by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government that aims to get those adults and young people furthest away from the labour market into employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project will focus on increasing the employability of economically inactive and long term unemployed adults, and reducing the number of 16 – 24 year olds who are not in education, employment or training. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Participants are given intensive one to one mentoring and support as well as access to vocational skills and training, and they are also supported to build their confidence and develop ‘soft’ skills, such as time keeping, needed to gain employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Communities for Work is a partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions, and will complement the existing Communities First Programme, and other support services in Torfaen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It was launched at the Life Station in Trevethin by Councilor Gwyneria Clark, executive member for housing, planning and public protection. She said: “We are pleased to welcome Communities for Work to Torfaen. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“While we already do a lot of work as an authority to tackle unemployment generally, this project will focus on the many complex issues faced by the long term unemployed and young people, and break down those barriers to employment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our aim is to work with 750 people over the next year, tackling the root cause of poverty and unemployment in some of our most disadvantaged communities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​