Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) as a community delivery partner are supporting local people, in the Cowdenbeath area, to identify for themselves the challenges and opportunities in their communities, deciding what to do about them and then being responsible for delivering the action that will make a difference.

CRT have developed Action Plans in 5 of the Cowdenbeath Area villages over the years and this new project further underpins their approach to supporting ex calfields areas.

To progress some of the projects identified through the Action Plans CRT along with BRAG aims to develop a quality programme that gives those who are furthest from the labour market a pathway into work by improving their employability prospects and ensuring that they have the skills to stay in work when they do find employment.  BRAG are proud to have been selected  as the delivery partner as the activities will support our delivery of No One Left Behind (NOLB) in Fife as well as fitting with the wider Fife Plan.

The programme will help local unemployed people, who live in the communities into employment through paid training, with participants undertaking a range of environmental maintenance jobs coupled with skills and qualification development  supporting them to move into permanent employment, education or training. Trainees will be offered a 12 month guaranteed job on the understanding that they move to a more permanent employer when they are ready.

CRT will be the lead organisation with BRAG providing operational activities that include the training, work experience and volunteering opportunities. Our alignment with NOLB will ensure that we  particularly target those with barriers to employment of who have known complex needs and have failed to find their own solution.

Key Elements:

  • A realistic  work environment
  • Assessment and guidance before, during and after programme
  • Core skills training as well as formal study towards nationally recognised qualification
  • Personal development
  • Weekly wage and incentives
  • Quality work that is worth doing, examples include:

Winter – litter picking and street sweeping; hard pruning and weeding; leaves bagged for mulch;  cuttings/cultivation; hard landscaping (paving, benches, etc; garden clearances; building window boxes, bird boxes, etc to order/for sale at events

Spring – litter picking and street sweeping; weeding and planting out; community maintenance (e.g. treating planters with stain/paint); chargeable work (eg building, installing and filling window boxes, building bin stores, external decoration of private property); community works/clearances

Summer –  litter picking and street sweeping; weeding and planting out; chargeable garden services (eg weeding, strimming, trimming, mowing – grass cuttings used as mulch for community planting); community gardening; rotational services for local businesses; installing high street hanging baskets sponsored by shops.

Key training elements supported as a matter of routine includes:

  • A valid CSCS Card
  • IPAF Operator Training (powered access, e.g. cherry pickers and boom lifts)
  • PASMA Training (tower scaffolding for users)
  • Working at Heights Training
  • Abrasive Wheels Training

Through quality management and effective partnerships, the project will have the dual benefits of improving the physical appearance an environment of the Cowdenbeath Area whilst giving unemployed people a better chance to succeed in life.

The delivery model will support both young people and adults alike by providing a blended progression model, this will allow candidates to enter the programme, develop their employability and occupational skills whilst building their self esteem.

This progression model will provide training and work experience leading to access to waged employment within the programme, employment, further training and education development or any additional interventions identified, which allows clients to progress within the programme and maximises their ability to secure a positive destination at the end of their development.

 This project is new to the area and there are no similar initiatives offering, mentoring support and training, work experience (paid at living wage) accompanied with support to find local work at the end of the training. The trainees will be encouraged and given support throughout the programme to secure permanent employment through BRAG’s role in the Fife Employment and Training Consortium (Fife ETC).

Find out more about Coalfields Regeneration Trust by clicking here.