New jobs initiative for south and east Belfast

An new initiative aimed at improving the chances of around ten long term unemployed people of finding jobs within the South and East Belfast Trust is to be launched next month.

‘Health Learning Works,’ which will be delivered by East Belfast Community Education Centre and funded by Belfast City Council and the Building Sustainable Prosperity fund, aims to break the long standing cycle of unemployment, by giving local people the opportunity to increase their self-confidence and develop a new set of essential job skills.

The programme will consist of six weeks of class based mentoring provision and a seven week work placement, during which, participants will be guaranteed an interview for full or part-time posts at various locations around the South and East Belfast areas.

Posts may include domestics, home helps, admin & clerical and support services.

Chairman of Council’s Economic Development Sub-Committee, Councillor Michael Browne, said the project, funded by the Council’s Neighbourhood Economic Development Programme, will help reduce unemployment rates in East Belfast and prepare people to work through a targeted intervention at community level.

He said: “Health Learning Works creates employment opportunities for local people who would not normally consider themselves as able to enter a professional career in the NHS or social care.”

The programme was introduced for the first time last year and all seven participants who successfully completed the Health Learning Works certificate are now working in permanent jobs.

Health Learning Works is open to individuals who are 18 years old or over, live in South or East Belfast, are unemployed and have been out of work for more than six months.

If you would like to find out more about this initiative please contact George Newell at East Belfast Community Education Centre on 028 9053 3153 or email healthlearningworks@yahoo.co.uk.

(EF)