Swansea workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic have been given new hope thanks to a Swansea Council back-to-work scheme.
More than 200 people have been helped by Swansea Workways+ Short Term Unemployed project in the past 15 months.
Over 100 of them are now back in work – others are completing training or volunteering.
Council cabinet member Alyson Pugh said: “We want to improve peoples’ lives – and that’s just what this project is doing.”
The Swansea Workways+ short term unemployed project offers training and employment support opportunities to unemployed citizens aged over 25.
Backed by £1.2m of EU funds, the project is been supported by the European Social Fund through the Welsh Government.
Support includes helping people search for jobs, develop their CVs, access funded training and qualifications, build their confidence, develop interview skills, access work experience and introduce people to potential employers.
Hugh Blackwood, aged 56, Southgate Swansea, used the project to find new work at construction and regeneration group Morgan Sindall.
Danielle Riley, aged 47, of Killay, used the project to find new work at South Wales Auction Facilities.
Kathryn Hynes, aged 63, of Brynmill, used the project to secure valuable roles as a volunteer with two charity organisations and has now entered full-time employment with assistance of the scheme
The Swansea Workways+ short term unemployed project has a team of dedicated employment liaison officers attached to the council’s Workways team.
Support, using local labour market knowledge and expertise, is personalised and focused on the needs of the individual to progress into sustainable employment.
The officers have a strong working relationship with local businesses, with a network of more than 250 employers providing access to jobs not available on job search websites.
