Youth Scheme graduates receive their certs
TWENTY Tús Youth scheme participants were awarded completion certificates in New Ross.
Wexford Local Development Tús programme has had a dedicated youth scheme in operation since 2013, where a group of people aged under 25 each year are given additional and more specialised support whilst completing their Tús work placements in the community. The participants complete one full months training and 11 months in a work placement with a half day per week training.
Tús Supervisor Joan Eite said: ‘Progression rates were high with nine of the 20 participants returning to employment or education.’
The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme which has been providing shortterm working opportunities for long term unemployed people since its inception in 2011. The Programme has been implemented by Local Development Companies (LDC’s) and Údarás na Gaeltachta for the Department of Social Protection (DSP), which maintains overall responsibility for the scheme. Each LDC scheme operates with an allocated number of Tús Supervisors and participants working on the basis of a 1:20 ratio respectively.
Work placements are provided by community and voluntary organisations that can provide good quality working opportunities for 19.5 hours per week. It is essential that these placements are meaningful and of benefit to both the community and the participant. The types of projects eligible include social care of all age groups and people with disabilities, caretaking, supervising of community buildings and spaces, renovation of community and sporting facilities, work in support of cultural and heritage activities, community administration and coaching for sporting activities.