Human Resources, Labour and Employment
Education
July 8, 2010
Williams Government Makes Further Investments in Youth
Train for Trades, a unique program
offered by Choices for Youth that gives young people experience with
skilled trades, has received new financial support from the Provincial
Government. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources,
Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for Youth Engagement,
announced more than $560,000 in funding today to support the
administration of the program in its second phase.
"The Williams Government is proud to support this innovative and
comprehensive approach to helping young people discover their true
potential so that they can become confident and independent adults,"
said Minister Sullivan. "Demand for skilled workers in this province is
increasing, and so by helping resilient youth explore this field,
Choices for Youth is opening up a wealth of opportunities for the
participants."
The first phase of the Train for Trades program began in August 2008.
Ten youth were provided basic safety and construction training and then
given employment opportunities in the renovation of Choices for Youth's
Lilly Building facility. Throughout the process the participants were
provided with supports and guidance that were tailored to their needs.
The outcomes were exciting, as six of the 10 participants upgraded their
education, four earned their General Education Diploma, four entered
into post-secondary studies in the skilled trades, and three found
employment in the construction industry. Phase two began this year and
involves 10 more youth who have received similar training and are
currently working alongside veteran CUPE members to complete renovations
to Newfoundland Labrador Housing units.
"This program supports two key priorities of our government — to support
youth in their educational goals and to promote careers in the skilled
trades," said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Education. "Train
for Trades encourages youth to succeed and has already proven to be an
effective learning experience. The Provincial Government is proud to
invest funding to enable more youth to take advantage of this program."
"We are proud of the initial outcomes of our Train for Trades program
and we are very pleased that the Provincial Government has come onside
with support that will allow us to continue the project into its second
phase," said Sheldon Pollett, Executive Director of Choices for Youth.
"As prosperity grows within the province it is important that all young
people are given opportunities to benefit, and this program helps
achieve that. I am grateful to the Provincial Government and all our
partners for making the second phase a reality and I Iook forward to
finding more opportunities to work with the province for the benefit of
youth."
Supporting employment opportunities for at risk youth is complementary
to the Williams Government's Youth Retention and Attraction Strategy (YRAS)
and its Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). The YRAS was officially
launched in November 2009 with the objective of countering the impacts
of out-migration, strengthening the labour market, and supporting the
economic development of the province. The PRS was launched in 2006 with
the goal of transforming Newfoundland and Labrador into the province
with the lowest level of poverty in Canada within a 10 year period.
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Media contacts:
Bradley Power
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 697-5216
bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Tara Power
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 727-5953
tarapower@gov.nl.ca
|
Sheldon Pollett
Executive Director
Choices for Youth
709-754-3047
sheldon@choicesforyouth.ca |
|
2010 07 08
12:50 p.m. |