By James Williamson

SCOTLAND OFFICE minister Ann McKechin MP yesterday hailed an employment partnership run by the Dundee branch of children’s charity Barnardo’s.

She visited the city to tour a range of services designed to support Dundonians through the recession.

Ms McKechin’s first stop was at the charity’s offices on Dudhope Terrace, where she was briefed about the Barnardo’s Works service, which aims to help young people find jobs.

The scheme pairs youngsters—some of them from disadvantaged backgrounds—with companies, allowing them to train under the guidance of a personal mentor.

Ms McKechin said, “I’m interested to hear about what Barnardo’s has been doing here in Dundee, bridging the gap between the public sector and private employers, and especially the mentoring of young people that they’ve been doing to prepare them for work.

“We don’t want this scheme to be the exception but as something that’s seen as normal.”

Paul Candow (18), who now has a full-time trainee post with Scotia Gas Networks after coming through the scheme, said, “Beforehand, I was trying for jobs and just didn’t hear anything back and you were back to square one.

“But with the scheme, all the project work was good and they would do anything they could to help you.”

Barnardo’s Works is supported by Claverhouse Training.

Ms McKechin later visited Dundee’s Citizens Advice Bureau to see the issues it deals with.

Dundee CAB manager Mary Kinninmonth said before the MP arrived, “We have some very important messages for her about the level of demand for our service.

“Since the recession began, we’ve been operating at full capacity and our resources are stretched to the limit.

“Like all charities, we operate on a very tight budget, and we are constantly looking ahead to see what funding we can secure to make sure that we can continue.

“Under present funding arrangements, there is no guarantee that we will be here next year or the year after.”

The minister also visited the Dundee International Women’s Centre and later met young people employed through the Future Jobs Fund.

The scheme operates sports development programmes across the city, including initiatives involving Dundee FC, Dundee United FC and the Scottish Football Association.

The Future Jobs Fund was launched by the government this year to create opportunities for unemployed young people and other disadvantaged groups, and is a joint venture between Jobcentre Plus and its partners.

Etta Wright, district manager for Jobcentre Plus, said, “This is a great opportunity for those who are finding difficulty getting into the jobs market.

“These newly created jobs will give them the experience and chance to develop their talents and skills, to better prepare themselves for their future careers.”

Opportunities through the fund will be additional to what is already being delivered, have a community benefit and include a training element.

The salary, pension and training costs for every person taken on as part of the programme are being met by the government.

A number of other fund projects, including an environmental improvement scheme, are being developed in Dundee and will begin in the next few months.

Council administration leader Ken Guild, who hosted the visit, said, “The Future Jobs Fund is providing opportunities for long- term unemployed young people throughout the city to get involved in the world of work.

“Our aim is to ensure that the sports development scheme, and other programmes being run in the city under the Future Jobs Fund banner, create trained and motivated individuals who are prepared for sustainable employment in the future.”