Early last year the Government announced an additional work scheme aimed at addressing the problem of unemployment in Ireland. Under the TUS Programme the Department of Social Protection selects candidates from the Live Register and these are put forward for 12 month placements in the Local Community and Voluntary sectors. The job of intervewing and placing these candidates is done by Supervisors from Local Development Companies, and in North Cork Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd. have had major successes in delivering on the initiative.
Programme Coordinator Ann Marie Tierney commented this week, “We cover Blarney, Mallow and Fermoy and we had three schemes to fill, with twenty placements per scheme. A lot of work has gone into the interviewing and placement process since last summer but we are delighted to say we have now completely filled two schemes and are nearly half way towards filling the third scheme.”
Ann Marie continues, “The profile of the participants has been hugely diverse, with Artists, Secretaries, Administration staff, Caretakers, Youth Workers and Retail assistants all finding placements. The first step is we interview with the participants and build a Skills Portflio. This gives us a good understanding of the kind of positions that would best suit them and gives a better chance for a successful placement.”
Finding the right work is the key for TUS programme so a lot of initial groundwork had to be done with Community groups to gain an understanding of what openings existed. The Supervisors maintain weekly contact with the participants as responsibility and HR issues remain with them, which ensures the scheme is delivered in the right spirit and doesn’t become a numbers exercise.
“We put many of the participants on Avondhu Blackwater Partnership training courses as we see it as a wonderful opprtunity to upskill them and improve the prospects for mainstream employment. It ties in perfectly with our ethos of volunteerism and comminity animation.”
If you would like to know more about the TUS programme contact Anne Marie Tierney or Vincent O’Keeffe on 025 33411.
Avondhu Blackwater Partnership Ltd 