CHESHIRE Community Development Trust has secured funding from Lloyds TSB Foundation and Awards for All for two programmes aimed at helping local unemployed people gain IT skills and search for employment.

Staff at CCDT will provide tuition in: n ECDL Essentials which is part 1 of the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) or Open College Network Computing for Beginners – whichever is most appropriate to the individual, n Kikstart which is a tutorial on using iPads and leads to a British Computer Society Charter Institute for IT certificate, n support in producing a quality CV and speculative job application, n Register all learners on Welfare 2 Work website to upload CV and search for employment.

Each learner will have an initial assessment of their learning and skills needs plus up to 20 hours tuition and support in the above, access to jobsearch websites in our learning centre and use of our local jobs board. Learners will also be signposted to all local adult learning providers for progression as needed.

The project will initially be promoted to school leavers and unemployed people aged under 20 but will soon be rolled out to other job seekers. It will be available at the Trust’s learning centre in Navigation Road, Northwich and additional venues are being considered.

Cheshire CDT chief executive Arthur Neil said: “We are delighted to have had this success as we are concerned about high levels of youth unemployment and the need to offer something positive to make those first important steps to employment.”

Anyone wishing to take advantage of this programme should contact Jacquie, Brian or Ifan on 01606 723180.