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28/01/2013
Minister Launches 'Step Ahead 50+'
Employment and Learning Minister, Dr Stephen Farry today launched a new £6 million employment initiative entitled 'Step Ahead 50+' to support 1,100 unemployed people age 50 or over into work over the next three years.
Step Ahead 50+ which has been funded by the Executive as part of its Jobs and Economy Initiative is a new strand of the Department's main adult return to work programme Steps to Work aimed at people age 50 and over.
The Minister said: "The current economic climate has made the move from benefits into sustainable employment even more difficult for those who have no recent work history and who are aged 50 or over. I am committed to improving the employability of our older people.
"Step Ahead 50+, which is available across Northern Ireland, will provide fixed term paid employment opportunities within the Voluntary and Community Sector lasting up to 26 weeks. Participants will also be encouraged to undertake training during their time of employment to gain valuable skills. Step Ahead will also provide participants with a chance to experience a real job coupled with a recent employment history to assist with their transition into employment, and enable them to compete more effectively for jobs."
The programme is aimed at people who are aged 50 or over and who have been unemployed and claiming benefit for 12 months or more.
The Minister concluded: "The programme is now up and running and there are almost 60 job vacancies already available. Step Ahead 50+ aims to contribute to the Executive's economic policy by building the skills base of our unemployed to prepare them for the jobs that will rebuild and rebalance the economy. It will also ensure that skills development for economic growth is being supported."
(CD)
Step Ahead 50+ which has been funded by the Executive as part of its Jobs and Economy Initiative is a new strand of the Department's main adult return to work programme Steps to Work aimed at people age 50 and over.
The Minister said: "The current economic climate has made the move from benefits into sustainable employment even more difficult for those who have no recent work history and who are aged 50 or over. I am committed to improving the employability of our older people.
"Step Ahead 50+, which is available across Northern Ireland, will provide fixed term paid employment opportunities within the Voluntary and Community Sector lasting up to 26 weeks. Participants will also be encouraged to undertake training during their time of employment to gain valuable skills. Step Ahead will also provide participants with a chance to experience a real job coupled with a recent employment history to assist with their transition into employment, and enable them to compete more effectively for jobs."
The programme is aimed at people who are aged 50 or over and who have been unemployed and claiming benefit for 12 months or more.
The Minister concluded: "The programme is now up and running and there are almost 60 job vacancies already available. Step Ahead 50+ aims to contribute to the Executive's economic policy by building the skills base of our unemployed to prepare them for the jobs that will rebuild and rebalance the economy. It will also ensure that skills development for economic growth is being supported."
(CD)
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