Communities For Work (Priority 3) – Please note this project has now closed.

Project description

Communities for Work is an employability programme supported by European Social Fund, delivering employment support services in 52 Communities First (CF) cluster areas across Wales

CfW Employment Mentors and Advisers work intensively with participants to identify and overcome barriers preventing them taking up training or employment. Mentors and Advisers are able to draw on a wide range of opportunities provided by the Welsh Government and its partners as well as those sourced locally.

The programme focuses on reducing the number of 16-24 year olds who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET) by providing intensive mentoring and early intervention to prevent young people progressing into long term unemployment.

Adult Employment Mentors and DWP Advisers offer;

• Diagnostic interviews to determine barriers to training or employment
• Support to individuals to address barriers to work, access training, identify and access educational, and employment opportunities
• 1 to 1 support, advice and guidance, including signposting to other services
• 1 to 1 support to access employment opportunities
• Matching participant ‘aspirations’ to labour market opportunities
• Improving interview techniques
• Job search skills
• Support in developing back to work action plans eg CV’s & Job applications
• Better off Calculations
• Access to ‘barriers funding’ which will tackle final barriers to work or training where no other provision is available, i.e. ICT, transport, clothing for employment or employment interviews, tools for work, pre-employment childcare.

Geographical coverage

The project works in Communities First areas of Local Authorities throughout Wales.

Essential eligibility criteria

Participants must live in a Communities First cluster area and be; Not in education, employment or training (NEET) (aged 16-24)

NEET includes;

• A NEET participant is somebody not engaged in employment, education or training at the point of intervention with C4W
• Including those who are economically inactive

Specific targets

Youth Employment Mentor and DWP Specialist Employment and Parent Advisers outcomes include the following;

• Engagements (enrolment onto the CfW programme)
• Job Entries
• Engagement in Job search
• Gaining employment related qualifications or work relevant certification
• Increasing Employability through work experience or volunteering

Contact details