Published on:
02
February 2010
Four new employees - the first of 77 workers being paid with funding from the UK Government - have been taken on by Clackmannanshire Council.
This follows a successful bid last year by the Clackmannanshire Alliance for money from the Future Jobs Fund.
This employment initiative aims to create 150,000 new jobs in the UK for 18-24 year olds who have been unemployed for over six months.
Christopher Mather and Jorden Doherty have been employed as sports development assistants within the Council's Education Service while Jonathon Allan and Frank McKenzie are now working at Forthbank Recycling Centre.
Chris Mather said: "The Future Job Fund has given me a great opportunity to start working again. I've had the chance to try new things such as coaching football, helping out with the kids with additional support needs and helping to set up and monitor at the cross country event. I've had the chance to meet new people and become part of a team at Sports Development. After being out of work for a while, the Future Jobs Fund has given me a reason to get up in the morning and get a taste of working life within Sports Development.
"Going around the schools, helping the kids is great. They really enjoy playing the games and are always grateful for the time we give them. I've realised that not every child plays to win, most just enjoy taking part and having a good time."
Clackmannanshire's Future Jobs Fund programme will see jobs being created across the voluntary, public and private sector and will include administration, construction, environmental, leisure, artistic and social types of work. Around 20 of the jobs will be within Clackmannanshire Council services while 11 local employers are part of the programme.
Potential candidates will be initially identified at the local Job Centre who will recommend the individual to Clackmannanshire Works, the Alliance's employment service. Clackmannanshire Works will manage the project on behalf of the Alliance and will aim to find and match candidates to positions. Candidates need to have been registered unemployed for at least six months to qualify.
Once matched to a suitable vacancy and in work, the candidates will be paid the minimum wage funded by the UK Government for six months. The Alliance has also allocated additional funding for on-the-job training.
Council leader Janet Cadenhead, chair of the Alliance, said: "I'm delighted that the first posts have been created under the Future Jobs Fund and look forward to more jobs being created in the near future. This funding has arrived at a crucial time and is giving unemployed local young people the chance to learn key skills and is giving them employment opportunities."
The 77 jobs will all be created this year.