12 January 2011 Last updated at 14:51Harlech rural skills course targets 63 jobless people
Traditional wood-working skills will be taught to those on the course
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Jobless people are to be given a chance to earn a wage as they learn rural skills, such as woodworking.
The scheme at Coleg Harlech WEA (N), Gwynedd, will also have lessons in land management, recycling and gardening - and self-employment will be encouraged.
More than 60 people will simulate a 35 hour working week for three months and be paid the minimum wage.
The £300,000 project, funded by Wales Council for Voluntary Action, will run over 18 months.
Trefor Owen, the principal with Coleg Harlech Worker's Educational Association (North Wales), said: "This is a very exciting project for Coleg Harlech.
Local economy"It is responding to the needs of the area and provides opportunities for local people, and we hope that this project will play an important part in developing the economy of the area," he added.
He said 63 people would be given the opportunity to take part in the project.
The money available will also pay for student support, and help for dyslexia sufferers, he added.
Despite the current economic situation too Mr Owen said that the skills people will learn will either help them in the future, or even encourage some of them to enter full-time education.
Job coach Gary Wyn Lewis will teach traditional woodworking skills on the course.
"I'll teach them dying skills such as how to cut wood, prepare it, split it, so that they can produce local products which are currently brought into the area," he said.
Celfyn Evans, from Blaenau Ffestiniog, said he was looking forward to the training in the hope of getting back into full time employment.
"I'm hoping to find gardening and tree cutting work," he said.
Thursday 13 January 2011
BBC News - Harlech rural skills course targets 63 jobless people
via bbc.co.uk
