The Environmental Employability Programme, also known as ‘Community Janitors’ is a new approach to neighbourhood management involving local people who are economically inactive or medium-long-term unemployed in a training and employment programme equipping them to work with Local Housing Organisations to:
Assist tenants in their homes and the wider environment
Maintain the security of gates/doors within communal areas
Clean & sweep paths, de-weed, de-litter and remove rubbish
Remove graffiti and report repairs or vandalism
Cut grass, trim hedges etc
Trainees receive a pre-recruitment assessment, an interview and induction, a work placement and full training programme. An aftercare package includes job searches, assistance with applications/interviews. In addition, soft skills development is offered to individuals reporting low levels of confidence or self-esteem.
The Programme operates on a partnership basis between Glasgow North Limited and Glasgow Housing Association/Local Housing Organisations across the North of the City. Job outcomes focus on employment opportunities within the environmental industry.
The programme will initially operate for a two-year period, with the first phase underway and operating well. The training element is be a package of employer-led training that has been identified through discussion with a range of potential private and public sector employers. Glasgow North Limited is looking at adding additional training ‘modules’ that will meet the environmental aspirations of the LHOs and the employment objectives of the participants.
In North Glasgow, the programme will provide training and work experience for a total of 75 participants over a two year period, supporting around 49 into sustainable employment. In addition, the project will provide employment opportunities for up to 6 local people (4 currently employed with two additional staff appointed from April 07) who will be employed as supervisors as part of the programme. These are new jobs that will be created within North Glasgow.