The City of Edinburgh Council is channelling crucial Young Person’s Guarantee funding into 14 employability programmes to help as many young people as possible get into work.
As Scotland’s Capital looks to build a stronger, fairer and more sustainable economy, councillors at the Council’s Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee this week were given an update on the diverse range of projects and programmes, both new and existing across the city, that will receive grant money.
These programmes will further help young people, aged between 16-24 years old, to prepare or give them the tools to find work.
They are open to all young people, regardless of background or experience, but will also specifically help and support young people who have additional barriers to securing a job. The help that young people can expect to receive will include mental health support, early skills training, practical skills training, as well as in-work support and mentoring as they progress into employment.
The funding supports projects and activities running between October 2021 and March 2022.
The successful providers and their programmes that young people can access are as follows (in no particular order):
Cyrenians “Key to Potential – Key to College” and “Getting Together”
Citadel “Futureheads”
Impact Arts “Impact Arts (Projects) Ltd”
Access to Industry “EdinMe Project” and “Access Mechanics”
Street League “Connected”
RUTS “Inspire”
Young Enterprise Scotland “Bridge 2 Business – Edinburgh”
Move On “Move On Employability Pathway”
ENABLE Scotland “Breaking Barriers (Edinburgh Napier University)”
Articulture Cultural Trust “Creative Potentials”
Barnardos “Drive2Work”
The funding is being delivered through the city’s own Edinburgh Guarantee, which earlier this year expanded to help people of all ages access fair work, training and employment, and has been provided by the Scottish Government, through its Young Persons Guarantee ambition.
Councillor Kate Campbell, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “We’re really pleased that there were so many good ideas and new, innovative programmes put forward by organisations across the city. The pandemic, and then Brexit, have caused so much disruption to people’s working lives and livelihoods, but we’re particularly mindful of the impact on young people and people facing additional barriers.
“We want to make sure that everyone, but especially those at the early stages of their working life or people who already face disadvantage, get fair access to education, training, skills development and good quality jobs.
“The Young Person’s Guarantee grant programme will help to increase those opportunities and will complement the already extensive support provided across the city.
“As a council we spend almost £5million a year supporting people who need a bit of extra help to find work and build skills and confidence. It’s never been more needed.
“Alongside, we’re making Edinburgh a Living Wage City, so that we’re not just helping people to access jobs, but good quality jobs. As we move through to economic recovery it’s vital that everyone can share in Edinburgh’s success, so making sure that work is fair, and people can earn a living wage, is a top priority.”
Councillor Mandy Watt, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Vice Convener, said: “Our Edinburgh Guarantee promises that no one will be left behind. Through this small grant programme we hope to make sure those who need our help will be given the opportunity to access the support they need so they are ready for whatever training or career aspirations they have their sights on.
“We also want to make sure that this is spread out across the city and that those experiencing the greatest barriers get the most help from these grant programmes.
It is hoped that YPG funding from the Scottish Government will be available in 2022/23 so work with providers to continue projects where the uptake and impact on young person accessing those programmes has been positive.
For anyone looking for more information about the Edinburgh Guarantee they can get in touch by emailing edinburghguarantee@edinburgh.gov.uk