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Kingdom Employability Project Awarded £230,000 Funding
12 February 2009

The emphasis is on supporting those furthest from the job market through community capacity building, volunteering, work placements and training opportunities. The funding will contribute towards salary costs, learning materials and specialist training.

The project focuses on three specific programmes, including an environmental programme that will concentrate on allotments development, community arts, playpark maintenance and woodland improvements. It will also focus on a mentoring programme, especially support for those with higher support needs, as well as an apprentice support programme for apprentices who have been redundant because of the economic downtown.

Funding will also contribute towards the provision of training in renewable technology and modern methods of construction, leading to opportunities for local communities in this expanding industry.

The recruitment of and support for trainees on the different programmes will be led by Fife Works, which is an innovative pilot project developed in partnership with Fife's Employability Agencies and hosted by Kingdom Housing Association. The Fife Works team will manage referrals, co-ordinate trainee activity and support employer engagement.

The Fife Works team promotes the provision of training placements for people from disadvantaged backgrounds to give them the opportunity to gain work experience, which will make them attractive candidates for employment with major companies operating in key sectors in Fife.

Andrew McDaniel, Community Initiatives Officer, is responsible for the development of the Wider Role Strategy of the Fife Housing Association Alliance. He said: "We are very grateful to the Scottish Government for the support for this innovative project, which will improve the employability of over 100 individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds.

"The project also combines some of the other Wider Role priorities, where employability is a theme running through them.

"We have built up a strong relationship with the Scottish Government's Wider Role Team, who have funded a number of Alliance projects.

"This project provides an exciting opportunity to make a difference for employers and people in Fife whilst endorsing the Scottish Government's employability agenda."