'West Belfast Works' Project Praised For Supporting People Into Jobs

Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, and Junior Minister, Alastair Ross, have celebrated the achievements of the 'West Belfast Works' project which is supporting people into employment across West Belfast and Shankill area.

The Social Investment Fund project, funded by the Executive's Delivering Social Change fund, provides training and paid work placements to unemployed and underemployed people in the area to enhance their potential for employment and support them into jobs.

Speaking at a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "The Executive has invested almost £3.3 million through this project to support up to 1,000 people across West Belfast and Shankill area.

"This is not just about headline figures but families and the wider community. These families will benefit directly and indirectly from the personal and professional development this initiative provides people.

"I commend the local people of West Belfast and Shankill who came together and, through the Steering Group, developed West Belfast Works. I thank the West Belfast Partnership Board and the Upper Springfield Community Development Trust and its partners involved in delivering the project on the ground."

Under the scheme up to 200 people will be given paid work placements for 51 weeks, 153 people are already in their placements and the remaining placements have been committed by employers.

Up to 700 people will be provided with valuable training to either help them progress in their current employment or to help them to secure the necessary skills, experience and training that will help them get a job.

263 people are receiving training and 51 people have secured jobs as a result to date. This is in addition to 87 who are in the paid work placements but also receiving training.

(MH)