Already a quarter of people go from jobs scheme into work
AN Upper Valley organisation held an open day to celebrate the achievements of its Future Jobs Fund employees.
Fifty people have been on the scheme at the Acorn Centre, Todmorden, since it started in February.
Thirteen of them have gone into jobs thanks to the training and support they have received from Acorn Centre staff.
Support worker Kevin Hoyle said: "Quite a lot of them have got work from the programme so it's been a fantastic success. The open day is a celebration of all that they have accomplished.
"We are really pleased. We have given them help and support, providing them with training and skills, and jobs are coming in on a regular basis to give them opportunities for employment."
People who have been on the scheme have gone into a variety of employment including gardening, care work and administration.
Martin Bates, support worker for the Future Jobs Fund, said: "It's fantastic, especially as we got a bit worried because of the economic climate.
"When people come here, they get really energised.
"It's hard when you get refused for jobs but we keep them going.
"When people come to the end of their six month contracts, we still support them."
Mr Bates said the Acorn Centre would like to hear from any local employers who could take on people from the scheme to give them some training and experience.
The Acorn Centre would cover the employees' wages until the end of their Future Jobs Fund contracts.
The first cohort who were on the scheme started leaving in August at the end of their six month contracts.
Operations manager Catherine Leedham said: "They have gained so many skills.
"We have had a special way of working with them. The whole thing has given them so much confidence.
"We have built a job club into the Future Jobs Fund two afternoons a week where they actively look for jobs, look at their CV and practise their interview technique.
"We have had 50 people on the scheme since it started. It's a lot for a small organisation like us.
"Twenty four per cent of our people have got new jobs from the Future Jobs Fund whereas the figure nationally is about ten per cent."
Mayor of Todmorden Coun Margareta Holmstedt attended the open day and spoke to staff and Future Jobs Fund employees.
Coun Holmstedt said: "I'm very pleased with the Future Jobs Fund's success rate. It's fantastic.
"I think the Acorn Centre is wonderful. It's a brilliant facility."
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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