Published on:
05
June 2013
A new work club is teaching unemployed residents of Clackmannanshire valuable IT skills
Dozens of residents who are claiming Job Seekers Allowance, who have little or no computer skills, have been attending an eight week course in either the Ben Cleuch Centre, Tillicoultry or at Alloa Academy.
Depute Council Leader Craig Holden said: "With benefit and allowance claims and job seeking all becoming an online process, there has been a rapid increase in demand from residents of Clackmannanshire for ICT skills."
Working in partnership with Job Centre Plus, Skills Development Scotland and local company Gemini Solutionz, the aim of this pilot project is to provide basic IT skills, along with CV creation, prospective letter writing and online job application training.
Funding for this project was received through the Scottish Government's Public Library Improvement Fund.
Councillor Holden added: "The funding is being used to employ two of our current IT volunteers to teach classes and develop the course materials. One of the volunteers, following support and training from Clackmannanshire Works, has successfully created her own training company, Gemini Solutionz and has been teaching the classes.
"The other volunteer has been employed under the permitted work scheme on a short term contract to develop course materials and carry out administration duties."
As well as the benefits of digital and social inclusion, individuals on the scheme have increased their own skills base. There will also be impacts for communities with more money coming into the local economy as unskilled people enter or re-enter employment.
Councillor Holden added: "Course participants are also feeling more confident in their own abilities and may feel empowered to move on to further training and education, taking ownership of their own digital skills and not be so dependent on others."
The feedback from the course has been very positive and funds have become available to deliver a third block.