Laying the Groundwork for New Jobs

From The Sentinel - 2 April 2007:

Environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent is launching a programme to get the unemployed back to work.The Chatterley Whitfield Community Training Programme, will target unemployed people in surrounding areas such as Ball Green, Chell Heath, Fegg Hayes and Norton.

The programme, which has received funding from the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and European Regional Development Fund, will provide training courses to help people access jobs.

Groundwork staff will begin the scheme over the next few weeks by conducting surveys to assess skills shortages.

They will then organise courses according to demand with subjects likely to include Maths and English, skills for the care sector and customer services.

Groundwork Stoke-on-Trent is hoping to deliver the training courses in the heart of the community.

The programme will be completed at the end of March 2008.

Andrew Ashton from Stoke on Trent City Council said: "The city council greatly appreciates funds from the European Regional Development Fund and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund which has made this project possible."