[jedimaster]

Originally Posted by garinda

There are also thousands of young people who are unemployed, many with excellent qualifications, who can't even get unpaid internships, to get experience, which might mean a future chance of full-time, paid employment.

I've no idea who funded this scheme at the Civic. It sounds more like something Lottery funded, than the by government. In which case any funding application would have had to specify a target group. Otherwise it would have stood little chance of being successful.

Yes, unemployment knows no age barrier. Though there's nothing wrong with targeting a particular age bracket, and any special associated needs that group may have. Be it a young, old, or in the middle age.

This scheme apparently runs for 3-4 months, and pays £5.00 per hour, for 7 hours per week.

It sounds more suitable as an entry level job, to gain some experience, for someone who perhaps won't need to rely on the thirty five quid a week it pays, to feed and house themselves, or their families.

Do you want to retrain as something, but can't?

I was lucky. I trained once only. Then I literally pounded the streets, and knocked on doors until I eventually got the job I wanted. Later, when I'd proved I was good at what I did, people came knocking on my door, offering me work.

Positivity is appealing, whatever job you're wanting to do.

I think this sounds a great opportunity, for those young people just starting out on life's long road of slog and grafting.

Good luck to 'em.

the problem is that ALL opportunities like this are only available to under 25's you anyone over this age forget it! I have spent 2 years fighting to get help like this to retrain and get back to work as i cannot go back to what i trained to do, but every answer is the same 'sorry no funding' I personally believe that over 25 unemployed with a family to support should be the no. 1 target group receiving help and funding to retrain and return to work. as you know gary, much like yourself I am limited in the work that I am physically able to do which drastically reduces my options for employment and unfortunately the jobs that I can physically do I constantly get rejected as I do not posess the relevant qualifications, even though I have spent the last 2 years volunteering so as to build a new skills base and gain new experience, this however appears to be worthless without the said qualifications (or at least that is the feedback I have had from employers) . There is already an abundance of opportunities for young people such as apprenticeships through colleges/training groups and youth training schemes however if you are over 25 there is NOTHING! as we are not a priority or a target group. I also firmly believe that opportunities like this should be open to everyone and not be restrictive. Not long ago there was a thread on here slating the council for funding groups which restricted it's members to so called minorities such as ethnic only/female only etc. In my eyes this is exactly the same situation, it is ageist. And DAMN RIGHT i'd do it if it was open to me!