Published: Thursday, 8th January, 2009 12:35pm

£1.4m jobs boost for area

by Eric Baxter

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INVERCLYDE is to get a major boost towards helping up to 900 people move into jobs.

Two European funds are to inject £1.4 million which will help pay for such things as training and childcare to make it easier for people to prepare for any vacancies that become available.

The council-run Inverclyde Integrated Employability Programme has been developed to deliver a range of activities to assist people into employment.

This includes a redevelopment at James Watt College, where 2,500 people - including students and members of the community - are expected to use new facilities.

The news was welcomed by community leaders after months of hard work have finally been rewarded.

Inverclyde Alliance chairman and council leader Stephen McCabe said: 'This is a major boost for Inverclyde.

'This money comes on top of the £5.4million from the Fairer Scotland Fund which we have already secured to give people facing a lifetime on benefits, or with little chance of getting a job, a real chance of a brighter future.

'Local projects will provide training and support and specifically target the hardest-to-reach groups in the most disengaged areas.'

Welcoming the news, SNP MSP Stuart McMillan added: 'This is vital to continuing the economic development of the area. It will not directly create jobs, but will help many people to get back into work or prepare for work.

'This funding is desperately needed during this tough economic period.'

Inverclyde is to receive £950,683 from the European Social Fund and £423,600 from the European Regional Development Fund. The money will be distributed through the Inverclyde Alliance. Programmes will run over a seven-year period.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, convener of Inverclyde Council"s regeneration committee, added: 'This is wonderful news for Inverclyde. Getting people into work is one of the key aims of the council and its partners, and this money will go a long way to achieving that.'

The money was secured by the Inverclyde Alliance and is a partnership bid between the main Alliance and James Watt College, Inverclyde Community Development Trust and Community Renewal Ltd.

Jim Bristow, chief executive of the Inverclyde Community Development Trust, said: 'I am delighted this additional funding has been made available to help the unemployed people of Inverclyde, particularly in this current financial climate.

'This award has come as a result of a lot of hard work by the Inverclyde Alliance, and I am sure the area will see real benefits from this investment in our future.'

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