Big Issue to tackle adult skills gap

“It’s a worry as the disruption meant I lost a lot of money, staff were unable to work the weekend and the pupils missed their lessons.”

Responding to the Facebook post one mum joked: “What about if I get Poppy to promise she won’t wee in the pool.”

Spiralling heating bills and chemical supply issues have forced pools in other parts of the country to close. Leisure centres in Norwich, Colchester and Brighton are among those affected.

Earlier this month Leeds City Council said it had changed the types of chlorine being used in its swimming pools and had ordered stock from other suppliers in response to the shortage. But the local authority said the situation was changing on a daily basis.

FOUR out of five people believe the UK has a skills gap, new research suggests.

The Big Issue Group said its survey of 1,700 adults showed strong support for its plans to launch a new recruitment service supporting marginalised people to find work.

Big Issue Recruit, which will launch in the autumn, will promote skills and training.

Three out of four respondents to the survey said the best way to support marginalised people back into jobs is through providing training programmes to develop specific skills.

Almost a third of people aged 18-24 said they believe there are fewer opportunities for young adults to access jobs compared with 30 years ago.

Jack Parsons, chief executive of The Youth Group, which is supporting the initiative, said: “We have to do more to help young people through such tough times and support them to feel like they can ‘win’ at work, in their communities and in society.”