03/09/2013

New Employment Academy Opens In Port Talbot

Communities & Tackling Poverty Minister Jeff Cuthbert has today unveiled a plaque to mark the official opening of a new employment academy to help people back into work in Port Talbot.

Based in Dalton Road in Sandfields, it will help people develop their skills so they can find employment, including interview skills and how to write CVs.

NSA Afan is a Community Regeneration charitable company and helps deliver the Communities First programme in Sandfields and Aberavon. The Communities First team in the area helped in the bid to the Community Asset Transfer (CAT) Fund which is operated by Big Lottery in partnership with the Welsh Government. CAT provided the capital grant which made the £500,000 refurbishment scheme possible.

Communities First is the Welsh Government's flagship programme to help those living in poorest areas of Wales. It works to improve health, prosperity and encourages access to education and learning.

There are 52 Communities First clusters across the country with four in Neath Port Talbot, which are to receive £4.8m over the next two financial years

Mr Cuthbert said: "I am very pleased to be here to officially launch the opening of the new Employment Academy here in Sandfields. On previous visits I have seen for myself the real difference this project is making to people's lives by helping them find work in these tough times.

"The Welsh Government is taking action on a number of fronts to help our poorest communities and to help those out of work to find jobs, making sure people have the right skills and education to improve their life chances."

(CD/JP)

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