Bridges into Work
Bridges into Work is an exciting new opportunity for economically inactive and unemployed people in South East Wales, with a £10million grant from the European Social Fund.
The project provides a boost to individuals and companies, providing opportunities for retraining or improving skills in subjects that are in demand by employers. The aim is to help nearly 3,000 people into sustainable employment by August 2012.
The Bridges into Work project provides access a wide variety of FREE courses and the opportunity of advice and guidance from a team of Learner Support Officers.
Where is it available?
Six Local Authority regions; Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taff have joined together to strategically develop and run Bridges into Work.
Who is it for?
It is available to all residents of the Bridges into Work region who are:
-
Not in full time education
-
Either not working or working for less than 16 hours per week but who wish to move closer to the job market with the ultimate aim of becoming employed
-
Not referred to the DWP Work Programme or Work Choice
-
Aged 16 - 65 (or if over 65 willing to sign an intention to work statement)
What can it offer?
-
Work clubs throughout the borough offering free career guidance, advice and information as well as support with job searches, CV writing and personal presentation skills to help people succeed at interviews.
-
Skills training in generic transferable skills e.g. literacy and numeracy skills up to GCSE, IT courses, Welsh, formal qualifications (such as City & Guilds and Agored Cymru)
-
Specific vocational skills training e.g. Food Hygiene, CSCS, Teaching Assistant, Massage.
-
Additional support for people facing barriers to working such as work limiting health conditions and childcare needs.
-
Learner Support Officers and Employment Support Officers that can provide one-to-one support to individuals
Why is the scheme important?
The current economic situation in the UK is making finding sustainable employment much tougher. Bridges into Work is working with some of the most deprived areas in Wales where unemployment and incapacity are already high. Helping people move from economic inactivity to work can be a long and expensive process with a variety of multiple interventions required for each person.
The project partners are planning to use this last round of European money to help make a real difference for people in the region.
Main contacts for the six Local Authorities
Torfaen County Borough Council
Croesyceiliog CEC, The Highway, Cwmbran NP44 2HF
Leila Gouran Project Manager
Tel: 01633 647743/647742
Email: bridgesintowork@torfaen.gov.uk|
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Melanie Sacre - Bridges into Work Learners' Mentor
Tel: 01495 309951
Email: melanie.sacre@blaenau-gwent.gov.uk|
Bridgend County Borough Council
Catherine Powell - Bridges into Work Outreach Co-ordinator
Tel: 01656 642619
Email: catherine.powell@bridgend.gov.uk|
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Louise Reed-Gibbs - Bridges Into Work Co-ordinator
Tel: 01633 601288
Email: reedgl@caerphilly.gov.uk|
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Neighbourhood Learning Centre
Enquiries Tel: 01685 727099
Email: nlc.enquiries@merthyr.gov.uk|
Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council
Ceri-Ann Boyce
Tel: 01443 743968
Email: bridgesintowork@rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk|