New Voluntary Sector Apprenticeships in South Somerset
An innovative new scheme has helped six local people in South Somerset into one-year apprenticeships with voluntary and community organisations. The apprenticeships are designed to help adults back into employment who do not currently work, but who don't satisfy all of the criteria of the definition of unemployment, for example, because of family responsibilities or early retirement.
The apprentices are engaged in a variety of customer service and administrative roles with Advocacy Somerset, the Balsam Centre, South Somerset Mind, ViSTA (Voluntary Sector Training Alliance) and the South Somerset Association for Voluntary and Community Action (CVS).
The scheme is a real win-win project that not only provides the apprentices with new skills and a route into work, but also helps voluntary sector organisations to employ apprentices that they would otherwise be unable to afford.
It is hoped that, once the initial one-year apprenticeships have been completed, the apprentices will feel they can take on the challenge of higher-level work-based training.
The scheme is partly funded by South Somerset Together, the local strategic partnership for the area. South Somerset Together contributed just under £10,000 towards the total cost of £53,000 with £33,000 coming from the government's Invest to Save scheme and the balance from the Learning and Skills Council.
The scheme is co-ordinated by the Voluntary Sector Training Alliance (ViSTA) based in Langport.
Stephen, an apprentice with ViSTA, said; "I think this scheme is absolutely brilliant!
"I was working as a door supervisor and often not finishing until 4am and I was on the lookout for something with more regular hours in a job that I was interested in.
"There aren't many apprenticeship opportunities for the over 18s, but I spotted this one online the day before the closing date and was fortunate enough to be offered a place.
"Although I'd always been interested in working in IT I'd never got round to doing anything about it. Now I'm really enjoying learning new skills and I'm looking forward to working towards an NVQ qualification soon."
Angela Kerr of ViSTA, said; "This project makes employment and training available to people who were one step removed from the labour market and who are unsure about returning to work.
"The start of the scheme has been a great success. Six apprentices – one more than originally envisaged - have been placed with five local voluntary and community organisations.
"These apprenticeships can be quite demanding in that they combine work and training. However, the apprentices have all risen to the challenge and as well as learning, they are making a valuable contribution to the work of the organisations employing them."
Paull Robathan, Chairman of South Somerset Together, said: "Community and voluntary groups can struggle to employ and train the people they need, and many people want to get back into work and improve their basic skills so that they can move on to further training.
"This project helps to do both. It also contributes to one of South Somerset Together's key strategic aims – to reduce worklessness and increase skill levels across the South Somerset population."