First anniversary of scheme giving long-term unemployed people a Lift

23 Mar 2015 11:47 AM

On the first anniversary of the Lift programme, Communities Minister Lesley Griffiths has praised the scheme for providing over 1,300 training or work opportunities and helping over 220 people get a job.

The Minister met John Crosbie, from St. Mellons, at the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership (NWSSP) in Cardiff. John had been unemployed for over 6 years when he started a Lift work placement at NWSSP, before going on to gain a full-time position within the organisation

Lift provides dedicated one-to-one support to people who have been out of work for more than six months and face barriers to employment, including young single parents, disabled people, adults with no qualifications or those with poor employment records.

Since its launch a year ago, the scheme has provided over 1,300 training and employment opportunities to people from households where no-one is in work, changing people’s lives and helping to tackle poverty across Wales.

Lesley Griffiths said yesterday:

“Employment is the best route out of poverty and can have a life-changing impact on people’s confidence and well-being. Our Lift programme is giving people who have been long-term unemployed a much-needed helping hand to gain the skills and experience they need to succeed.

“Today we are marking a significant milestone – the first anniversary of Lift. It is a source of pride that since its launch, the programme has helped over 220 people into employment and provided over 1,300 training and work opportunities.

“It has been great to meet Lift participants to hear first-hand about their experiences of the programme. In particular, I want to congratulate John on securing full-time employment and thank the NHS for its active involvement in the programme.”

John said:  

“Before being referred to the Lift Programme I was unemployed for over 6 years. I have a young family, and it was very hard not being able to find work. I was referred to Lift by my Job Centre Plus advisor and soon gained a work placement in the NHS, which was brilliant. I gained new skills and abilities and as a result, was offered a full-time position with the NHS.

"I now have such a sense of pride. I feel better about myself and my confidence is so much higher than before I joined Lift.”

The Minister also met Janine Coles from Trowbridge who had been unemployed for 7 years before gaining a work placement with Cardiff Community Housing Association (CCHA) as an administrative assistant. Lift is also supporting Janine to gain qualifications, including an Award in Education Training and NVQ Level 3 in Youth & Community Work.

Janine said:

“Life before this opportunity was quite miserable. Every day seemed the same, I lost my confidence and became really unsociable. I really wanted things to change but I couldn’t find the motivation or assistance to make those changes and I didn’t know where to start.

“I am now on a work placement with CCHA. The Lift programme is amazing. I have learnt so many new skills and I am gaining such great experience for the future. It’s made a big difference to my life and that of my family and I look forward to the future where I will be qualified and employed."

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