Local charity Salus has been awarded a Community Grant to fund a new project which will provide employment support to unemployed and vulnerable young women in Maidstone.
The Skills to Succeed project will provide practical, solution-focused support for young women aged 16-30 who are economically inactive and/or struggling to access employment due to transitioning from education, caring responsibilities (including parenting), physical/mental health difficulties or fleeing violence.
Through skilled intervention through workshops, work experience and mentoring, the service will build their emotional capabilities, employability skills, motivation and empower them to overcome personal barriers to employment.
The grant has been awarded by CXK, through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) under their Community Grants Scheme via European Social Fund funding (ESF).
Peter Heckel, Director at Salus, said: “Salus are delighted to have been commissioned to deliver a SELEP ESF Community Grant. This project will provide vital support, helping vulnerable women into employment.
“The central districts of Maidstone (Shepway, Parkwood, High street) are in the top 20% in Kent for unemployment, young people who are NEET (not in education, employment or training) and deprivation; therefore we’ve chosen to focus our service in those areas. The funding will ensure that more than 100 young women will be able to benefit from the project.
“We are particularly pleased to be working with CXK with whom we have a long standing and productive relationship delivering for vulnerable people in Kent.”
For further information about Salus, visit: salusgroup.org.uk.
