Led by the Work Skills Training Academy of Cornwall College, a Partnership project is looking to businesses and community projects in St Just and Pendeen to join them in improving the employment skills of those affected by long term unemployment. The project is ambitious in looking to train people in the skills required by local businesses and provide people with meaningful qualifications locally. Some people might start with voluntary work but could end up with the skills to start their own business and employ others!
Cllr Sue James welcomes the scheme and asks all local employers and community groups to come along and find out more about the project. She said “It looks a brilliant idea. Local businesses and community groups could benefit from having a local unemployed person placed with them and the unemployed person would gain some skills to get them back to work or perhaps working for the first time.”
Former Cornwall Councillor, Chris Goninan is keen to actively support the scheme by offering his time as a mentor. He explained “This is a very exciting project, which is being piloted in St Just & Pendeen, and I will do all that I can to ensure its success. I also call on other members of our community, who may be retired, and have the necessary skills and experience to make a difference, by mentoring, to come to the planned meeting. Believe me you can and will make a real difference to the quality of life of those who find themselves unemployed.”
This project has the potential to benefit local businesses who agree to get involved by linking them with the Cornwall College Business Team and their Apprenticeship Programme and allowing them to put something back into the local community by providing mentors and work placements. For local community groups it will be a chance to exchange ideas and perhaps recruit some new volunteers or even get some help with some much needed repairs to buildings.
Steve Maunder, Business Development Manager for the WorkSkillsAcademy said “That if businesses and community groups embrace the idea of supporting local unemployed people then we can support them for the long term. This is not a project that will disappear after a couple of weeks. The Work Skills Academy has a record of making a difference, over time.”
Business and community group representatives are invited to attend a meeting at the Old Town Hall on Chapel Road, St Just at 2.30p.m on Monday 30 September to find out more and help shape the local project.