HELPING THOUSANDS GET BACK TO
COMMUNITY Employment (CE) Schemes across south west Wexford have provided training and jobs for thousands of people over the past three decades and with new eligibility rules having come in, more people will be able to avail of the service.
The Community Employment programme is designed to help people who are long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged people to get back to work by offering part-time and temporary placements in jobs based within local communities. Participants can take up other part-time work during their placement. To be eligible you must be over 21 years and be in receipt of a Social Welfare payment for 12 months.
All participants on CE Schemes are required to undertake training which is funded by the Department of Social Protection to assist them in gaining either full or part-time employment. Work placements are based on 19.5 hours per week and participants are given the opportunity to update and gain new skills. A recent change means participants aged 21 and older can avail of these schemes, whereas in the past individuals had to be aged over 25.
After the placement, participants are encouraged to seek permanent part-time and fulltime jobs elsewhere based on the experience and new skills they have gained while in a Community Employment scheme.
New Ross & District Chamber of Commerce CE scheme is now in its 22nd year.
The programme has 33 places allocated which are funded by the Department of Social Protection and sponsored by New Ross & District Chamber of Commerce. The scheme provides valuable work experience together with access to high quality accredited training to individuals seeking to re-enter the workforce. This programme provides vital support to various community projects throughout the town and district including Cumas, New Ross Community Hospital, New Ross Day Care, Meals on Wheels, Scoil Spaoí na Leanaí Community Childcare, St. Mary’s Youth Centre, JFK Trust, The Ros Tapestry and the Chamber Office.
Assistant Manager of the chamber, Anne Dwyer said: ‘It is a prime example of the chamber’s commitment to improving our social and economic environment. The chamber acknowledges the 27 individuals currently placed in community projects and expresses gratitude to the participants for their time, effort and full value of the jobs they perform. We encourage each and every one to make this opportunity count and wish the participants every success with progression into employment. We also acknowledge the projects supported by the CE Programme that have the facility to employ people for the continued employment opportunities that have given to community employment participants over the past years.’
Tullogher Rosbercon CE Scheme is 24 years in operation and currently has 24 participants working in eight different projects in the Rosbercon and New Ross areas. These projects include: New Ross Tidy Towns, St Vincent de Paul, New Ross Parish, Tullogher Rosbercon GAA Club, Oaklands Fishing Lake, Rosbercon Parish, New Houghton Hospital and New Ross Search and Rescue. Participants’ progression routes into employment at Tullogher Rosbercon CE Scheme include healthcare, office administra- tion, construction and horticultural career paths. CE Opportunities include positions in office administration, environmental worker roles, as retail assistants, van drivers, lake attendants, hall caretaker and activity coordinators.
Hook Rural Tourism CE Scheme is based in Duncannon and has 17 participants working across the peninsula including at Duncannon Tourist Office, Colclough Walled Gardens at Tintern Abbey, in Fethard-onSea Village and in beaches in the area. Hook Rural Tourism promotes the Hook Peninsula as a premier tourist destination through marketing (including digital and social media), events and through the production of a number of brochures.
The events take place throughout the year and include Hike to the Hook, Hooked on the Sea Festival, Tri the Hook Sprint Triathlon and the Hook Peninsula Photographic Competition. It also runs the tourist office in Duncannon, which operates throughout the year and facilitates guided tours of Duncannon Fort during the summer season. Employment progression routes for participants is very varied and training includes office administration,