Extra funding to support communities in West Somerset to find work, training and development opportunities has been secured.
West Somerset Council successfully bid for the funding from the Our Place programme. The project aims to bring residents, community and voluntary organisations together to focus on key concerns locally and transform the way they deliver those services.
In West Somerset, the project co-ordinated by the Council concentrates on improving employment opportunities and access to essential skills and training.
Over the past month, using an initial grant of £2,500 from Our Place, extensive work has taken place in the district to identify what is needed to support local people into employment and training. This has included consultations with support organisations, 1-1 interviews and surveys with local employers and sessions with those actively seeking work.
The additional £10,000 now secured will allow the work to develop further and the Council has partnered with 18 organisations to support people on their journey towards employment or training using three complementary approaches.
Bespoke Mentoring: Mentors will be recruited and trained so that they can provide appropriate support for individuals and signpost to relevant services. The emphasis will be on improving self-esteem, confidence and aspiration.
Skills Swap Brokerage: Providing opportunities for people to use, trade, strengthen and share their skills and experiences through learning from others. People will be encouraged to register their details about a skill that they have or a skill that they wish to make use of.
A Passport to Employment: Working with employers, job seekers and training providers to create a progressive employability skills programme – People will be able to develop skills required by local employers to get a job. The scheme will be piloted with a small number of jobseekers and local employers. The aim is for the ‘Passport’ to become a recognised and trusted scheme to demonstrate that jobseekers have the required ‘employability’ skills
Conservative Councillor Karen Mills, Economic Regeneration Portfolio Holder, said: “We are delighted with the outcome of the Our Place bid. The money secured will help to support some very innovative projects to help our local communities. Ultimately what Our Place aims to do for West Somerset is to join up services to provide a one-stop shop for those requiring additional support.”