A NEW community programme that tackles social disadvantage
on the Southside is helping the unemployed gain valuable work experience at
local non-profit organisations.
In 2011, as part of a multi-stranded approach to
address the unemployment crisis in the country, the Department of Social
Protection appointed partnership companies to deliver the new Tús Community
Work Placement Programme.
The department randomly selects people from the live
register and offers them the opportunity to take part in the scheme.
The Southside Partnership DLR is the local development
company in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area with a remit to address
socio-economic disadvantage in the county.
It is currently seeking expressions of interest from
local organisations that would like to take part in the Tús scheme.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown has experienced a dramatic rise
in unemployment in the last number of years, rising from 4,597 in January 2008
to 14,606 in October 2011 – a 217 per cent increase.
These figures include those signing on at the social
welfare offices in Dun Laoghaire, Nutgrove
and Bray.
The figures were compiled recently by the All Island
Research Observatory at the National University of Ireland (NUI) Maynooth.
Due to the unemployment crisis in Dun Laoghaire
Rathdown, the Southside Partnership has been allocated up to 180 participant
places in the Tús scheme.
In the six months that it has been in operation, the
partnership has placed over 40 people with a wide range of local groups.
Tús aims to provide quality work placements for
participants as a valuable way of gaining or updating their experience of the
workplace, learning new skills and returning to the routine of work.
The placements last for one year and Southside
Partnership works to match the participants to the requirements of the
organisations. Where possible work placement is found in the local community
where participants live.
To be eligible a Tús placement provider must be
community based, voluntary and non profit in nature. It should be able to
demonstrate a track record of working with or providing services to their
communities.
Karl Lawlor (28), from Glasthule, had been unemployed
for almost three years when he began working in the Dun Laoghaire Enterprise
Centre on a Tús scheme in September.
He said it had motivated him to rejoin the workforce.
“I am a qualified electrician,
? Karl said.
“After I
lost my job I did one or two courses but I wasn’t getting anything out of them
because there were no jobs. I was stuck
in a rut. I was called up for the Tús programme in September and now I have something to do for a few hours a day. I
did some part time electrical work with a bloke who I used to work with at
Christmas.
“Now I am going to work everyday whereas before that I
would often think what is the point in getting up. You can get very down on
yourself and this has made me more open to looking for work and changed my
attitude.
?
Marie Carroll, the CEO of the Southside Partnership,
said Tús aims to benefit participants by giving them increased confidence and
self esteem along with access to networking, employment and training
opportunities.
“Participants will also have a good CV and access to
references at the end of the placement,
? she explained.
“TÃ?S also benefits the
placement provider by helping those that are engaged in valuable work in
communities.
?
To discuss the potential for Tús work placements in
your organisation, telephone Marian White or Finn McGuirk on 01-7060100; or
email marian.white@sspship.ie or finn.mcguirk@sspship.ie.
And for further details log onto
www.southsidepartnership.ie