ADULT LEARNING WEEK OFFERS KEYS TO CAREER SUCCESS
Unemployed people in Cumbernauld are being encouraged to build their skills during Adult Learners’ Week, which is running between Saturday 9th May and Friday 15th May.
North Lanarkshire’s Working is urging the long-term unemployed on Incapacity Benefit or Income Support, lone parents, and school-leavers to consider taking part in one of the many courses aimed at helping local people develop new skills and boost their chances of finding employment..
Cumbernauld College, a vital North Lanarkshire’s Working partner, provides a wide range of courses all year round which help local people to build new skills in areas such as team leadership, confidence building and using computers. Many courses lead to a nationally-recognised qualification to help participants prepare for finding a job.
Local people can also take part in a series of North Lanarkshire’s Working courses which can provide training in areas such as writing CVs, sports coaching, and the development of practical skills useful in a range of trades. Many of the courses run every week, making it easy to get started.
Maureen McConachie, Head of Regeneration Services at North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Adult Learners’ Week is a great initiative and we’re pleased to be lending our support to the events which will be taking place up and down the UK this week.
“Learning is a lifelong process, and making an effort to acquire new skills and experience can build self-confidence, encourage different ways of thinking, and help to prepare unemployed people for re-entering and succeeding in the workplace.
“North Lanarkshire’s Working, in partnership with local colleges, provide a broad range of support for the long term unemployed, lone parents and school leavers, and have had great success in working together to help people back to work.
“I hope that Adult Learners’ Week encourages local people to contact North Lanarkshire’s Working and take their first steps into employment.”
Bill Ledingham, from Cumbernauld, is just one of the many local people who have been helped into employment by North Lanarkshire’s Working. After spending 12 years on Incapacity Benefit after a workplace accident, he received assistance to regain his qualification as an electrician and set up his own business.
Bill, 54, said: “I’ve already built up a lot of contacts and loyal customers, and it feels great to be working again. I couldn’t have made it here without help, and I’m really grateful to all the North Lanarkshire’s Working partner organisations who gave me all the assistance I needed to set up on my own.”
Places are still available on the next round of courses beginning at Cumbernauld College which start in the next few weeks. All courses are free of charge to unemployed men and women, and childcare costs, travelling and lunch expenses are provided.
Personal Development Programme – Next courses begin on May 26th and July 7th. This five-week course offers a development “training schedule” to set achievable targets and provides support to develop communication and computer skills. The course includes a two-week work placement with a local employer and a nationally-recognised qualification. The course is free of charge to unemployed men and women. Childcare costs, travelling and lunch expenses are provided.
Community Programme – Next course begins on July 7th. This seven-week part-time course helps learners to develop computer skills through in-depth tutor guidance and acquire a nationally-recognised qualification.
Placement Programme – Next courses begin on May 26th and July 7th. A five-week course offering training sessions covering business and re-employment, which includes a three-week work placement and offers an Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM) Level 2 Award in Team Leading.
A young man from Shotts is delighted to be back in full time employment after two years without a job. This is thanks to the support that he received from North Lanarkshire's Working.
