Care workers project celebrates successes

A COMMUNITY programme based in Craigmillar that is helping the long-term unemployed get back to work is celebrating the success of its social care work trainees at an awards ceremony at The White House.

The Cyrenians’ Learning and Work service supports unemployed people in Craigmillar and Portobello, and provides practical support to help people into work, training and education. Partners on the project included Four Seasons’ Castlegreen Care Home and Carr-Gomm Scotland, which is based in Craigmillar and offers services throughout Edinburgh for the young and elderly.

Sandi McGeoch, learning and work development officer, said: “The aim of this course is first and foremost to provide the opportunity for people to gain skills and relevant qualifications to get into work and sustain work.

“However, social care work is not for everyone and we wanted to encourage people we felt would be wonderful carers, and we are confident that we have achieved that.”

Support was also provided by PARC, Joined Up 4 Jobs partners, Jobcentre Plus and City of Edinburgh Council Working for Families.