Member Article

Coalfields cash extends skills talent pool project

A training and development solutions provider has extended a project that aims to tackle unemployment in South Yorkshire after securing practical and funding support from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

With a total fund of £10,000, The Learning Community is set to increase the Skills Talent Pool project by a further six months to provide support and training for 25 long-term unemployed participants enabling them to move closer to the labour market.

Located in Dinnington, the training provider offers a wide range of services such as providing information, advice and guidance on learning, jobs and career development, maths and English, as well as delivering accountancy and employability programmes.

The Learning Community works to improve the skills and wellbeing of residents of all ages across South Yorkshire, North Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Business Development and Projects Manager of The Learning Community, Karen Shaw, comments: “As a result of the funding secured from the Coalfields Community Investment Programme, we will not only be able to continue to run our wide range of services as usual for the local residents, but also offer an extension to the Skills Talent Pool project that is aiming to help secure jobs for disadvantaged members of the community. Our priority groups include Homeless, Mental Health, Lone Parents, Long Term Unemployed, Long Term Health Conditions, Long Term Unemployed, Early School Leavers, Early Care Leavers, Ex-Offenders and Substance Mis Users.

“Our core aim is to support those ordinarily overlooked by employers. We have great success in securing employment for our priority groups, securing 50+ jobs in the last 18 months. We do not discriminate against anyone and that is why we are so good at what we do”.

Chairman of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Peter McNestry, comments: “The Learning Community has worked tirelessly for many years to improve the lives of former coal mining communities, which generally have higher rates of deprivation and unemployment than the UK average.

“Being able to offer this organisation £10,000 in funding that will allow them to extend the Skills Talent Pool project is further evidence of the positive impact we can have in our communities. The core values of The Learning Community mirrors our own, and the work being carried out will not only help people to find employment but also improve these communities as a whole.

“Although the health and wellbeing of former coalmining communities may have lost the support of the government, we will continue to fund and grow organisations that are working towards helping create a brighter future.”

As The Learning Community has become a member of Coalfield Community Investment Programme it will continue to be supported by the Trust and will receive bespoke practical support that includes everything from access to resources and services such as help with third-party funding applications and bid-writing, to tips on effective promotion and marketing.

Delivered by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, the Coalfields Community Investment Programme supports organisations and programmes of activity that meet with three key criteria; to address skills, employment or health and wellbeing.

The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in 1999 and is the only organisation dedicated to supporting former mining towns and villages.

Over the years more than 2m people have benefited from support delivered by the organisation. More than 25,500 people have been supported into work, 5,500 jobs have been created or safeguarded, 1.3m people have received the necessary support to help improve their skills and gain qualifications and over 250,000 people have participated in activities that have improve their health.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nick Hill .