Working partnership out to offer hope for East Lancashire youngsters (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Working partnership out to offer hope for East Lancashire youngsters

7:40pm Thursday 13th September 2012 in News By Dan Clough, Reporter

UNEMPLOYED 16 to 24-year-olds had the chance to meet some prospective employers and training providers at a special event.

Youth Zone in Blackburn played host to the JobCentre Plus event, aimed at helping to get young people into work.

The event came months after the Government’s Youth Contract initiative was launched, which is offering firms incentives to take on young staff.

There were a number of stalls with people available to give advice and job application forms.

Representatives came from Blackburn College, the Army, Balfour Beatty, The Prince’s Trust, Forbes Solicitors and more.

Employer and partnership adviser for Blackburn JobCentre Plus, Cathy Ross, was one of the event’s organisers.

She said this would be the first of a number of events that JobCentre Plus and the Youth Zone would worktogether in partnership on.

She said: “As part of the Youth Contract we want to offer more support to young people looking for work.

“Youth Zone is the ideal facility for such an event and a chance for them to showcase their facilities.”

Youth Zone’s head of support services Sarah Johns said: “This is what Youth Zone is all about.

“We were thrilled to host the event and pro-vide these opportunities.”

University of Central Lancashire graduates and friends Saffiya Sange, 23, and Umma Iqbal, 24, went to the event in the hope of finding work.

Saffiya said: “I got a degree in social work but getting a job has been really hard.”

Also looking for help was 18-year-old Luke Greenhalgh, of Newchurch Close, Blackburn.

He said: “Coming here was a bit of an eye-opener. It has given me hope.”

And Jonathan Young, 24, of Manxman Road, Blackburn, said he was hoping to find work in retail .