More than 1,000 new jobs created for young unemployed people in Scotland's charities

SCVO Media Release 25 February 2015 As thousands of charities come together for The Gathering, the annual event for third sector organisations organised by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), today and tomorrow in the SECC, Glasgow, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced that the Scottish Government is to invest an additional £6.1m to create at least 1,000 jobs for young unemployed people in charities and third sector organisations this year. The paid jobs lasting 6-18 months will be created as part of Community Jobs Scotland, run by SCVO, which has already created 5,546 jobs for young unemployed people. Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “This is fantastic news for young people, charities and communities right across Scotland. “Community Jobs Scotland works so well because it gives young unemployed people the chance to make a valuable contribution to their community, and earn a wage and build new skills at the same time. “Young people see the benefits of becoming more actively involved in their local area, and doing their bit by supporting other people and making their community a better place for everyone to live. “By investing in young people, including young offenders, young people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, and care leavers, Community Jobs Scotland ensures that they don’t just get the extra support they need to find work but they also gain first-hand experiences of making a real difference to other people’s lives.” Dionne McHugh, aged 21 from Clydebank, employed as a catering assistant at Unity Enterprises through Community Jobs Scotland, said: “Glad I ended up with a full time job and really happy I did not have to go back to the Jobcentre. Great to have some money for a change.” Anton McAuley, aged 20 from Greenock, also employed at Unity Enterprises said: “I really enjoyed meeting all the new people on the project. Working with the service users with learning disabilities was a fantastic experience.” Alan Busson, Chief Officer, Gordon Rural Action in Aberdeenshire, who has employed young people through Community Jobs Scotland said: “Staff employed through the scheme have brought new blood, fresh ideas and youth into the organisation. We have been so impressed with the staff recruited that we have taken some of them on as long term employees and they have a great future ahead of them.” ENDS  

1. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations is the membership organisation for Scotland’s charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises. The Scottish third sector turns over £4.5 billion a year and employs 138,000 people in over 45,000 organisations.

2. Community Jobs Scotland (CJS), created by SCVO with Scottish Government funding created 5,546 paid jobs for young unemployed people through a network of 585 third sector organisations in each of the 32 local authority areas. Long-term unemployed young people are offered a paid job for 6-18 months with a third sector organisation for at least 25 hours a week.
3. The programme has been extremely successful with 54.5% of young people having moved into permanent jobs (45.1% were retained by their CJS employer), 11.1% moved into further education and 4.7% into volunteering.

4. For more information or to request an interview, call Charlotte McNeill at SCVO on 07790 601 995