New jobs for young people in Third Sector

The Scottish Government is to invest a further £10 million in 2011-12 to support unemployed young people into work and training opportunities in a new programme, Community Jobs Scotland.

The funding will primarily support 16-24 year olds unemployed for six months or more into a job within a third sector organisation in their community. There will also be opportunities for older unemployed people in those areas where unemployment is highest. The initiative will be rolled out across Scotland providing young people with six-month contracts of 25 hours or more per week, for at least the minimum wage.

The SCVO and Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition will work in partnership with Scottish Government to deliver the scheme which will provide opportunities for up to 2,000 participants, to support:

• An opportunity for unemployed people to move into a job in the third sector for a minimum of six months which would allow them to make a contribution to their communities;
• Enhancement of longer term job prospects for participants through concrete job experience;
• Job specific training;
• Additional training which enhances the participant's wider prospects of securing a permanent job; and
• Support for the third sector as it seeks to continue to deliver services to communities across Scotland.

Read more about this scheme.