Multi-agency Moray Pathways hub set up to help hard-hit young people into employment and training
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A CENTRAL, multi-agency employability and training hub has been set up in Elgin to provide a one-stop shop for Moray's young people.
Elgin Youth Development Group, Moray Council's employment team and the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have united to create the Moray Pathways @ The Inkwell hub.
They are anticipating a huge demand for services when Covid-19 restrictions are eventually relaxed.
The project has secured funding from the DWP to invest in the recruitment of Moray Pathways project officers, a digital literacies project officer and DWP youth work coaches.
The staff will co-ordinate a wide range of employability and training support from their base at The Inkwell, in Elgin's Francis Place.
A new menu of online help and advice will also be developed.
Amy Cruickshank, from the council team, said: "We are delighted with how the project is progressing and look forward to opening the doors when Covid restrictions allow.
"The role of the Moray Pathways Hub is to encourage a range of additional partner resources via Moray Pathways.
"The partner providers will have access to the larger Inkwell space three days a week and the smaller Inkwell room will provide a multi-agency hot-desk facility.
"Partners can use the rooms to deliver training provision, digital workshops, and support workers can hold one-to-one meetings and be served refreshments in the comfort of the café area during the day."
Jane Munro, of the DWP, added: "The hub will be open to people of all ages who require additional support.
"However, the funding for the additional staff resource is targeted at young people aged 16-24 who have been particularly affected by Covid-19.
"Young people locally have been largely unprepared for this situation. Therefore, it is vitally important that we create opportunities for them to move forward.
"This could include employer information sessions, mentoring circles and upskilling on digital techniques."
The Scottish Government recently launched the Young Persons Guarantee as a response to the impact of Covid-19 on young people.
The project will support the ambition to guarantee the opportunity of a job, placement, training or volunteering for every 16 to 24-year-old in Moray.
Economy Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: "Since November our £60 million Young Person’s Guarantee has created around 18,000 opportunities for people aged between 16 and 24 to help them into work, education or training.
"Our local partnership programmes play a crucial role delivering many of these. That’s why we have dedicated £30 million to support local authorities to take this work forward.
"We know our young people are some of the hardest hit by the pandemic.
"To ensure they can all get access to the opportunities and support they need we have recently announced – in addition to our ongoing investment in education, learning, skills, apprenticeships and employability programmes – a further £70 million for our Young Person’s Guarantee."
