A further twelve grassroots organisations have received funding totalling £117,218 from the ABZWorks Development Fund to develop their employability projects, Aberdeen City Council has announced.
ABZWorks has utilised No One Left Behind monies from the Scottish Government to help it connect to those hardest to reach and gently move them onto and along the employment pipeline.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard, said: “These organisations provide real opportunities for individuals to gain new experiences, learn new skills and gain the confidence to access employment perhaps for the first time or the chance to get a better paid job. This can help people to get out of poverty, end social isolation, improve the health and social wellbeing of those individuals, which in turn has a positive impact on their families, the wider community and for all of us living in Aberdeen.”
Following a successful first round of funding earlier in the year, applications were invited from local and grass roots organisations that are not on the Council’s employability services procurement framework, to demonstrate how their projects meet local need and reflect local circumstances. Applicants had to detail how they would support people far removed from the labour market, and how they would deliver these projects, including early engagement activities.
The ABZWorks Development Fund offers local providers the opportunity to build their capacity to deliver employability-related activities that have a particular focus on those with barriers to employment.
The Fund supports small, local groups and organisations across the city, primarily within the priority areas: Kincorth, Ashgrove, Stockethill, Torry, George Street, Middlefield, Mastrick, Cummings Park, Northfield, Heathryfold, Seaton, Woodside, and Tillydrone.
The ABZWorks Development Fund round two recipients are:
- Autism and Neurodiversity North Scotland: to establish an employability support programme, lead by our specialised employability advisor, which is tailored to the needs of autistic and neurodiverse individuals.
- Silver City Surfers: Digital skills drop-in sessions in priority areas.
- Touch of Love: to develop weekly one-to-one sessions to alleviate barriers to employment faced by Aberdeen New Scots.
- Catalyst Transform: to generate work placements and training opportunities for those involved in the Criminal Justice System.
- Denis Law Legacy Trust: support 1-1 sessions with young people to enhance their skills and build confidence before employment.
- Your Love Rara: to develop volunteering opportunities for young people.
- Cairncry Community Centre: Cookery sessions for parents/carers with dependent children.
- Bethany Christian Trust: Weekly drop-in café, The Toastie Club, for people who have experienced homelessness.
- Middlefield Community Project: to support learning and coping skills tutors, and assist with delivery of the community café.
- Inchgarth Community Centre: Increase capacity of volunteer coordination to recruit and support additional volunteers, IT classes and training.
- Music 4 U: Employability skills project for young people with additional support needs.
- Instant Neighbour: to increase opportunities for their volunteers by offering recognised qualifications and 1-1 development sessions.
These activities help to deliver actions set out in the Aberdeen Local Employability Partnership Delivery Plan
and the Aberdeen’s Community Wealth Building Action Plan.
To find out more visit www.abzworks.co.uk or email abzworks@aberdeencity.gov.uk or call the ABZWorks team on 01224 346100 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm).