Money Advice Project: a helping hand to get jobless back into work

We have also received support from JC+, the Greater Glasgow Health Board and John Wheatley College, who will help to equip individuals with skills needed to seek work through focussing on building confidence, how to go about looking for owrk, and IT skills.

Lawrence McCabe, our Community Regeneration Manager, said: "Our Money Advice project helps tenants with debt issues and a range of money-related problems. We accept that these are issues which don't exist in isolation and are often made worse by unemployment and lack of income. To extend the idea to helping people find jobs is a natural and sensible way of providing further help.

It is being done in a way that will not affect benefits and we are working closely with the Department of Work & Pensions. The overall aim is to encourage long-term unemployed tenants to seek work and give them the skills and confidence to make employment happen."

The aim of the project is to take 30 residents form the Bridgeton and Dalmarnock area and help them to become more employable, through providing a range of services and through the 10 week coursd. Those taking part will receive a recognised qualification at the end of the course.

We are hoping to have the first course, of 15 residents, up and running in February 2012. If you are interested in taking part, watch out for further updates that we will be providing. We will also be placing posters in GP surgeries, shops, libraries, Health Centres and in our offices. If you would like any further information, do not hesitate to contact us.

Some of the funding received has allowed us to employ two new members of staff. Ashley Frame (some of you may remember Ashley from previously working as a trainee with Thenue) has joined us as a Money Advice Worker, along with Tracy Lennon as Employability Support Worker.