Debt Advice Foundation supports new Youth Contract scheme

A new Government initiative designed to help young unemployed people into work is being supported by Debt Advice Foundation.  The Youth Contract, which launched at the beginning of April, will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for 18-24 years olds, including apprenticeships and voluntary work experience placements.

A new Government initiative designed to help young unemployed people into work is being supported by Debt Advice Foundation.  The Youth Contract, which launched at the beginning of April, will provide nearly half-a-million new opportunities for 18-24 years olds, including apprenticeships and voluntary work experience placements.

A local launch of the scheme was held at the Job Centre in Darwen, where Debt Advice Foundation has its offices.  The charity’s advice centre manager, Tracey Ashworth, who attended the event with work experience placement Laura Winter, said: “We have had three young people recently on work experience.  Two have gone on to get another job, and we’re hoping to take on the third ourselves when money is in place.

“It’s a win-win situation because the young person gets valid work experience and the chance of getting a job, and the employer can put someone tried and tested into a position when one comes up.”

Linda Peel, manager of Darwen Job Centre, said she hoped to get at least 70 young people in the town to take part this year.

She said: “Work experience can lead to a permanent paid job, and we have witnessed many examples of this locally but, just as importantly, it can give people who have never worked or have no qualifications their first experience of an workplace.”

The Darwen scheme was launched by Rossendale and Darwen MP Jake Berry.

For more information on the Youth Contract, see: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/youth-contract/

Tweet