COASTAL is making waves in Carmarthenshire 

 

Over 300 people have benefitted in Carmarthenshire from a regional programme designed to support working age people who struggle to find suitable training and employment due to illness, disability or social disadvantage.

The Carmarthenshire COASTAL Programme, which includes popular projects such as SA31 Café at County Hall; STEPS units in Carmarthen, Cross Hands and Llanelli; and Next Step to Work, a supported employment agency, for young people not in education, employment and training.

Supported with matched funding from Carmarthenshire County Council and the European Social Fund, the COASTAL team has been working hard since 2009, with the aim of helping over a thousand people to find training and long-term employment.

Since the project began, the team has recorded a number of achievements.

About one third of participants who have enrolled on the project now attend a supported centre dedicated to helping them learn skills for independence and work, including gardening maintenance and growing vegetables, woodwork, catering and hand-making home accessories.

A further one third  are attending bespoke training courses individually sourced and planned for them, in subjects including IT training, construction and food hygiene.

Others are being supported to attend individualised training courses designed for mainstream public, including wedding planning and an introduction to radio broadcasting.

Almost 20 young people who have left care, but are not in education or employment, are being supported to train towards qualifications in areas including administration, child care, park rangers and vehicle maintenance.

Of these participants, around 20 per cent have also taken up volunteering opportunities.

Although the COASTAL project is designed to support people to access accredited training and prepare them for employment, a number of participants have already achieved their goals of finding sustainable employment in sectors including care and retail.

Gareth John, the council’s Head of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, said: “The outcomes being delivered are very encouraging and proves that with the right support anyone can achieve their goals. Thanks to the dedication of the support teams, and the commitment and enthusiasm of the participants, the COASTAL project is gaining momentum and making a real difference to people’s lives.”

COASTAL is a regional project – part-funded from European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the 2007-13 West Wales and the Valleys Convergence Programme.  Its aim is to support adults aged 16+ who face employment barriers as a result of severe disabilities, social disadvantage or chronic

health conditions.