Organisations are being encouraged to find out more about the new East Dunbartonshire Employability Grant Programme which launched today.
The programme is funded through the Scottish Government No One Left Behind and Young Person's Guarantee funding to Local Employability Partnerships.
The programme aims to support unemployed people into work and applications are sought from the public, private, third and further/higher education sectors. East Dunbartonshire Council will be administering the grants programme on behalf of the Local Employability Partnership *.
Joint Council Leader Vaughan Moody explained, "This exciting new initiative is designed to give people the kind of practical help, information, support and advice they need to get their first job or to re-enter the job market after a gap for whatever reason.
"It could be that they need to learn new skills or update existing knowledge so they are able to compete in the job market and demonstrate to employers that they have the skills and competencies they are looking for in their workforce. It is also about building self confidence in those who have been out of work for some time and feel left behind."
Councillor Andrew Polson, Joint Council Leader, added, "We need to work together with local partners to identify people who could benefit from this investment and ensure that we are providing the best possible service to those who need it most. We must identify those with a barrier to employment - whatever that barrier may be - and help them overcome it.
"The focus is on reducing unemployment in East Dunbartonshire and also providing people in low-income families with the opportunity to increase their income by skilling up and helping them make the most of their potential. Achieving this will improve people's life chances and help boost the local economy."
An application form can be downloaded from our website, where applicants will also find guidance notes.
* The Local Employability Partnership is made up of representatives of national and local employability agencies and chaired by East Dunbartonshire Council.
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