YOUNG unemployed people in West Lothian are set to benefit from a major new European funding award.
The West Lothian Council led Community Planning Partnership has been successful in its bid for a combined funding award of £1.7 million from the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund.
The funding will be used to improve the
lives of youngsters under 16 years old who are at risk of becoming unemployed and 16 to 24-year-olds who are not in education, training or work.
It will also benefit people over 45 who have physical or mental health barriers stopping them from finding employment.
The council will work in partnership with West Lothian College, Oatridge College, Scottish Enterprise, West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, Voluntary Action West Lothian, IntoWork and Skills Development Scotland to help these groups overcome their disadvantages and reduce unemployment in area.
Executive councillor for development and transport, Martyn Day, welcomed the news.
"The delivery of individual, targeted packages of activity will empower job-seekers to become more in control of their job search and career development, as well as responding to the needs of employers within West Lothian," he said.
The full article contains 202 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
