Mentoring programme for young unemployed due to restart
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A PROGRAMME to support young people who need a bit of help getting into the job market is due to restart in April.
Run by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), mentoring circles are a three-week course for young people which are a mix of job search help, outdoor activities and working on the perfect presentation pitch with a local employer.
It is also an opportunity for customers to work with other job seekers and to share challenges as a group. This is designed to highlight to the attendees that they are not alone in the challenges and issues they face.
The latest lockdown had forced these onto a solely virtual format but it is hoped that they can resume on April 13.
Mentoring circles are open to people aged 18-24 who are currently unemployed.
Those interested should speak to their work coach in the first instance.
Meanwhile, a mentoring circles course delivered in January and February saw a focus on how to get DWcustomers to 'pitch perfectly' at interview. It was a run by Moray Pathways in collaboration with the DWP, Lossie Entertainment Academy and Moray Council Employability Team. The course was due to be delivered in Moray Pathways @ The Inkwell, but due to the lockdown we had to deliver this virtually.
Jane Munro, from the DWP. said: "As Lossie Entertainment Academy have some fantastic connections with famous actors, I thought it would be a novel idea to see if we could engage an actor to support this project.
"They are more than used to pitching themselves for work and would be able to deliver some very experienced advice.
"Lossie Entertainment Academy came back really quickly to say that Harriet Thorpe, an actress famous for Brittas Empires, Absolutely Fabulous and Musical Theatre shows to name a few, would be delighted to support this and allow our customers to 'pitch perfect'."
The programme ran over two days a week for four weeks to teach customers a number of vital basics, such as looking at personal and professional qualities, questions to ask at interview and identifying the right jobs to name but a few.
Mrs Munro added that the customer feedback was very positive.
Watch a clip from the programme here:
