Nicola Sturgeon announces £6m funding for Community Jobs Scotland

Over £6m is to be invested in creating 700 new job training opportunities for unemployed young people, Nicola Sturgeon announced today.

The money will be used to improve the job prospects of 16-29-year-olds who face the biggest barriers to employment, such as people with disabilities and those who have left the military.

The £6.1m investment will support up to 700 job training opportunities as part of the next phase of the Community Jobs Scotland (CJS) programme, which is delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO).

The CJS scheme offers unemployed vulnerable young people 12-18 month training posts.

Employers are supported by the Scottish Government to pay CJS employees the living wage.

The First Minister outlined the new funding during her speech at the annual SCVO Gathering event to celebrate the impact the voluntary sector has on Scotland’s communities.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “Our voluntary workers play a crucial role in making Scotland a prosperous and equal society.

“They are essential to our efforts to build a fairer and wealthier country and are vital in encouraging participation – ensuring people have a real say in the issues which directly affect them.

“Today’s funding of £6.1 million will provide 700 training opportunities for young people.

“It is so important that most of the places will be filled by people who currently find it harder to get jobs – carers, people leaving care, people with disabilities, and people leaving military service – and is a further example of the role the third sector can play in promoting opportunities and tackling inequality.”

The Scottish Government has invested more than £45m in CJS since it launched in 2011, creating more than 6,500 job training opportunities for young people across Scotland, with almost 70 per cent of young people involved in the programme going onto a job or further education.

Martin Sime, Chief Executive, SCVO said: “Community Jobs Scotland really has the edge on other employment programmes because it’s giving a leg up to young unemployed people who are furthest from the labour market to grow their confidence and skills in a real workplace.

“That is why most graduates from the programme get a permanent job.”