Community job milestone for Zara
She’s the latest worker to benefit
A young woman from Callander area has become the 8,000th person to benefit from a programme which creates job opportunities in the third sector for vulnerable unemployed young people across Scotland.
Zara Turner (21), a hospitality assistant at Callander Youth Project , secured the post through the Community Jobs Scotland programme.
It’s run by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations in partnership with the Scottish Government which has invested £57 million in the programme.
At an event held in Callander on Wednesday, Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn presented Ms Turner with a certificate to highlight the achievement:
Zara Turner started working at the Callander project as a CJS hospitality worker last month but only found out on Wednesday she was the programme’s 8,000th employee in Scotland
She said: “Since starting here I’ve become a happier person and am enjoying the job. I have made some good friends as well. Everybody at Callander Youth Project supports me and I couldn’t be any more grateful for their help.”
Mr Hepburn said: “The programme over the last seven years has supported many of our most vulnerable young people to transition into training and the workplace.
“It has been part of the range of initiatives the Scottish Government has supported to help improve the prospects of Scotland’s young people and get the country amongst the best performers across the EU for youth unemployment.”
Acting chief executive for SCVO, Lucy McTernan said: “It’s thanks to over 650 third sector employers like Callander Youth Project Trust that we have managed to create employment opportunities for so many young people.
“The support and experience young people obtain through the jobs CJS creates is invaluable and helps build their confidence to go on to bigger and better things, while also benefitting their communities.”
Callander Youth Project Trust runs a range of programmes for young people plus a successful café and hostel.
Jamie Proudfoot, senior youth support worker at Callander Youth Project, said: “We find the help from SCVO to be invaluable because it helps young people to come along and contribute positively to what we do. In return, we can provide them with the skills, training, experience and qualifications.”