Need to Think Bigger on Community Max Scheme

Additional funding for the Community Max programme unveiled yesterday is going in the right direction, says the Council of Trade Unions following the announcement of an additional 1500 places on the scheme, but its not enough when there are 66,000 unemployed young people. It needs to be accompanied with more support for unemployed people, more investment in training and subsidies to create jobs.

The social cost of unemployment for young people is enormous and so while extra funding is welcome, it’s not enough given the size of the problem”, said CTU welfare spokesperson Eileen Brown. "Community Max is still only reaching a fraction of these young people who are jobless at one of the most critical times in their working lives. The Community Max funding and programme is innovative and can provide work experience and skills training for young people on, for example, environmental projects that contribute to communities”.

The CTU is urging a greater focus on job creation and more investment in training in its response to the Welfare Working Group. For many people the recession hasn't gone away and they face a daily struggle with joblessness and life on the poverty line.

ENDS