WIREDGOV

Programmes supporting more people into work.

People from ethnic minorities and people with disabilities looking for jobs are benefiting from investment from the Scottish Government to support them into the workplace.

Minister for Youth Employment Angela Constance announced the Scottish Government is investing more than £600,000 over two years to help 150 graduates find employment.

Research shows the employment rates of disabled people are 29 per cent lower than non-disabled people, and employment rates of minority ethnic people are 15 per cent lower.

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) will administer the programme of paid internships for both groups which will be in third sector organisations, supported by leading equality organisations.

Ms Constance yesterday met organisations at the Voluntary Sector Gateway in Bathgate that are working with young people who are benefitting from the investment.

She said:

“While Scottish graduates continue to punch above their weight in terms of achievement, we need to ensure that there are opportunities available to them to help address under-employment. We have already funded several schemes, including Adopt an Intern aimed at helping those having difficulty in getting a foot in the door.

“However, we also know that young people with a disability or long term health condition, and minority ethnic young people have particular barriers to accessing such opportunities.

“A programme aimed specifically at supporting these groups into paid internships will greatly enhance the experience of those concerned and improve their chances of finding employment in their chosen field. Host organisations and interns will be supported by leading equality organisations to ensure young graduates, here in West Lothian and across Scotland, to enjoy a successful and high quality experience. I am very pleased to be able to fund the SCVO to get this proposal up and running.”

Martin Sime, Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said:

“This is great news for unemployed disabled graduates and those from ethnic minority communities who are at risk of slipping into long-term unemployment. These internships will give 150 people the chance to learn new skills and earn a wage. They will also provide much needed support to charities and third sector organisations in Scotland which are expecting demand for their services to increase in 2014.”

Ms Constance also welcomed the launch today of a new Parliamentary Internships programme for disabled graduates, funded with £70,000 from the Scottish Government, which will be led by Inclusion Scotland.

She said:

“There are few more dynamic workplaces than the Scottish Parliament and any intern who works there will have the chance to get involved in a wide range of important projects spanning public life in Scotland.

“It’s a perfect place for interns to develop valuable transferrable skills that will serve them well in future employment. I look forward to meeting the first interns recruited in Parliament.”

Notes to editors

Support will be provided to host organisations and interns by BEMIS (Black and Minority Infrastructure Scotland and CEMVO (Convention of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations) and by SDEF (Scottish Disability Equality Forum) and Inclusion Scotland.

The internships will be targeted at unemployed graduates aged 18 – 30 from further and higher education who are less than one year unemployed (ie not on the Work Programme) or who have completed the Work Programme and not moved into employment. The internships would be available across all 32 Local Authority areas and across a range of sectors including social care, conservation and community recycling.