AN initiative used to help people find work following the closure of SSI is being rolled out across the Tees Valley.
The resource hub brings together a number of agencies to provide advice and support to anyone who has been made redundant or who is out of work.
Following the success of the resource hub following the SSI closure, a series of drop-in events are being held across the Tees Valley, which are open to everyone.
Advice and support will be available on a wide range of topics including CV writing, new career opportunities and retraining, interview techniques, trade union representation, starting your own business, money management, pensions, welfare and benefits, and health and wellbeing.
The dates and venues are:
· Thursday 21 January – Middlesbrough College, 9am – 4pm
· Monday 25 January – Inspire to Learn (CLC), Eston, 9am – 4pm
· Tuesday 26 January – Stockton Riverside College, 9.30am – 3.30pm
· Thursday 28 January – Dolphin Centre, Darlington, 9am – 4pm
· Friday 29 January – Hartlepool College, 10am – 3pm
Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Sue Jeffrey, said: “We saw how helpful it was to bring all the agencies together under one roof to provide immediate support to those affected by the SSI closure, and we felt it would be helpful to hold similar events for anyone who is out of work.
“With the New Year now underway, we want to ensure as many people are connected to jobs or training as quickly as possible and this is one way to help achieve that.”
Councillor Chris McEwan, Darlington Borough Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration said: “Darlington has a number of new vacancies coming up and we are using this opportunity to put people in the best position to be able to apply for and get into these roles.
“There will be a host of employers also attending hoping to recruit for their vacancies. These events have proved popular in the past and I hope people will come along and take advantage.”
Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We are doing everything we can to help people who are affected by unemployment, including offering help with accessing benefits, job seeking and considering self-employment options.
“The Council’s Economic Regeneration Team constantly looks at ways to match local employers to those seeking employment and this event will offer advice and support to people in the town at a time when they need it most.”
Middlesbrough Mayor Dave Budd said: “A lot of work has been done to help those affected by the closure of SSI and these resource hubs are a further opportunity for local people to receive advice and support on a range of issues. They have proven to be helpful before and I hope any member of the public who could be assisted does attend one of the events.”
Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: “We are continuing to work in collaboration with all the Tees Valley local authorities to help people get the support they need. Any resident in our area who is out of work or is facing redundancy is welcome to attend the drop-in sessions where they can access information, guidance, work and training opportunities, as well as confidential advice from a range of support agencies.
“We want to help people at the earliest opportunity so we would also encourage anyone who is concerned about their Council Tax payments or entitlement to benefits to contact the Council’s Welfare Rights team for further help and support.”