AN EMPLOYABILITY service led by Barnardo’s Scotland has helped dozens of young people across Perth & Kinross into work and further education.
The children’s charity leads Employability4All, which works to make early interventions for vulnerable individuals and families.
The initiative focuses on lifting families out of poverty, reducing child poverty, and reducing in-work poverty and the disability employment gap.
The service, which was run jointly by Barnardo’s Works and ENABLE Works with funding from Perth & Kinross Council’s ‘No One Left Behind Challenge Fund’, delivered a flexible model of employability support.
Among the groups supported by the service are school leavers without a positive destination; jobless care-experienced young people aged 16 to 26; young people with other protected characteristics aged 16 to 29; and individuals aged 16-67 with a disability or health condition.
The project originally ran from September 2022 to March this year and supported more than 50 individuals.
More than 80% of those supported were aged 25 and under with 40% having never worked.
Six months in, more than a quarter of participants had achieved a positive employment or further education outcome, while nearly a third had gained qualifications.
Cliff Graham, the Head of Operations for Employment, Training and Skills at Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “The first six months of the Employability4All project led to some very positive results.
“Our team worked alongside young people and adults and local employers, ensuring there was a match with the aspirations and skills of unemployed Perth & Kinross residents and the local employment opportunities.
“We found that some participants were almost work ready, and just needed a little help.
“Others needed long term support and experienced more barriers to employment.
“It’s a flexible programme and it is client-centred and designed to do what’s right by the client.
“It’s not just about getting them into a job right away just to satisfy targets.
“Many of the young people we engage with at Barnardo’s have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic
“Our Project Workers meet with high numbers of young people who are disengaged from learning, lacking in confidence to communicate with their peers and are also struggling with their mental health.
“This has resulted in these young people being further removed from the job market and requiring a longer timeframe to be ready to move into work.”
One participant is Sam, who started with Employability4All after leaving school because she didn’t feel safe there.
She withdrew from school and was home-educated for about 18 months, saying she felt supported and confident engaging with the Employability4All service.
Sam explains: “Previously, I was very nervous about jobs and interviews, but knew it would have to happen one day.
“I was able to choose what was best for me at the time and how comfortable I felt.
“I always felt comfortable enough to get my points across as well as learn.
“It has made a big difference in my confidence, being able to speak and go to appointments myself.”
Sam is now working full time – a goal that her mother was unsure would be achievable for her.
