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Participants in the Packington scheme |
Building a future: Two weeks to lay down foundations of a career in construction
DEVELOPERS and the Prince’s Trust have joined forces to give young people basic construction skills.
Ten people took part in the Get Into Construction scheme run by the trust and Hyde Group, which is carrying out a £100m regeneration project at Packington estate in Angel.
The programme introduces unemployed young people to skills such as carpentry, plastering, plumbing and electrical work.
All 10 young people involved gained a CSCS certificate – needed to work on construction sites.
One of those taking part, David Toohey, 19, said: “It was brilliant for all the young people on the course. I’ve enjoyed the two weeks so much.”
£1m beat-the-crunch initiative offers cash for school uniforms
CASH for school uniforms and loans for fridges and washing machines are to be offered by the Lib Dem-controlled Town Hall as part of a £1million “recession-busting” package announced this week.
The “lifeline” scheme will include extra money for advice services to help those in debt and a “shop local” campaign to support small businesses.
The council plans to employ 100 new apprentices, not just in construction but in white-collar jobs at the Town Hall.
Up to £150 for secondary school uniforms could be made available to parents on benefits.
Small, low-interest loans are to be offered to residents for essential items like fridges and washing machines through the independent Islington and City Credit Union (ICCU).
The council is planning to invest £100,000 in the Archway-based ICCU, which is owned by its members and encourages people to save.
At the same time the council will be funding a new Citizens Advice Service from January – there is none in the borough at present – as well as boosting the capacity of two existing advice groups, Islington People’s Rights and the drop-in Law Centre.
The package is expected to be approved at a full council meeting on Thursday.
Lib Dem council leader Councillor James Kempton said: “The plans will not only provide a safety net for those already in need, but will help stop people falling into financial trouble in the first place.”
He added that he would rather see people take out loans from the credit union, which is properly regulated, than go to “loan sharks and get themselves into worse trouble”.
Along with funding a new Citizens Advice Service, the council plans to invest £100,000 in the Law Centre and the People’s Rights Centre, to provide extra staff. This could mean an extra 500 people a year could be offered helped. Debt advice would also be provided at community centres and libraries on a regular basis.
Labour opposition leader Councillor Catherine West said her party had been pushing for a similar, although wider ranging, scheme for some time.
She added: “The measures they have proposed are a start, but our town centres still face decline after 150 per cent increases in parking charges.
“The council is still planning to ship more job opportunities and apprenticeships out of the borough in a closure programme.”
Tim Newark, of Islington Taxpayers’ Alliance, said it was wrong to try to beat the recession by spending public money.
“You have very comfortable council bureaucrats, shielded from the real world by huge salaries and pensions, six times the size of those in the private sector,” he added.
“If they are giving out public money it should be matched by cutting back on the perks, expenses and ‘golden goodbyes’ to highly-paid workers.”
Boom times at bank
IN the wake of the banking crisis, interest in Archway-based Islington and City Credit Union is said to be growing.
With the announcement this week that Islington Council is planning to invest £100,000 in ICCU – to provide more money for small loans – more people are expected to join.
Members of the savings and loans co-operative based at Caxton House in St Johns Way receive no interest on savings but normally get a dividend based on an annual profit share.
Acting manager Martin Groombridge said: “You can pay as little as £1 a month, which is 25p a week.
“We don’t penalise you if you have poor credit history or if you are unemployed.
“And if you do need help we can refer you to specialist financing counselling.”
ICCU, on the first floor of Caxton House, in St Johns Way, can be contacted on 7561 1786. |
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