Employability Bridgend hubs set to open in local communities

Local communities are benefitting from council funding to upgrade facilities at venues across the county borough. As a result, Employability Bridgend will be able to set-up community hubs in these venues, allowing more residents outside of the main town centres to access their services.

The employability programme is designed to help those aged 16 years and over who are unemployed, are looking for more hours, a second or new job. The programme sources vocational qualifications, volunteering opportunities, as well as offers an opportunity to develop personal skills.

The ‘Reach Thriving Rural Communities Fund’ has enabled Heol-y-Cyw Community Centre to install broadband and purchase new computers, providing digital support for the local people. There are new ‘drop-ins’ at the Westward Community Centre in Cefn Glas, as well as additional plans for Pencoed Library, which will be closed for exciting renovations this year – in the meantime, the Employability team will be based at Pencoed Miners’ Welfare Hall.

Employability Bridgend, already offering support at 20 locations across the county borough, is committed to expanding its reach in local communities over the coming months.

In addition to the community hubs, the Employability team is also branching out to create links with schools, providing support for parents on topics that may benefit them.  For example, in January there is a taster session arranged for Paediatric First Aid at Brackla Primary School, with booking available through the school.

This is a very exciting time for Employability Bridgend. Valuable advice and support have always been available to people across the county borough and the expansion of our face-to-face service into more communities, means that even more people will potentially benefit from what the programme has to offer.

I am also very enthused by the fact that the Employability team are connecting with schools to inform parents about a range of relevant subjects, this will consequently have a positive impact on the younger generation.

Equipping people with skills and knowledge, means to empower them. This can only improve the prosperity of our county borough – the intention which underpins the work of Employability Bridgend.

Councillor Neelo Farr, Cabinet Member for Regeneration

For further details about Employability Bridgend community hubs, please visit their Facebook page.