A second training course equipping the Clutha district's young people for jobs finished last week and participants are now preparing for work.
The Ready, Steady, Work course is headed by Clutha Mayor Bryan Cadogan, who spent two years finding agencies and groups willing to take part in the project, before it was first held last year.
Recently named chairman of the mayors' task force for jobs programme, Mr Cadogan has been working with five government agencies and community groups to reduce youth unemployment by identifying those needing jobs earlier and helping them become attractive prospects for Clutha employers.
The Ready, Steady, Work course involved a joint approach between the task force and some of the Clutha region's major employers to co-operatively run a mentoring programme alongside participants' employment.
Mr Cadogan said the support for the course was ''phenomenal'', from employers coming on board and others offering to be mentors.
''The community has responded - a wealth of jobs and a wealth of opportunity for these young ones.''
He was impressed with the support from Government departments, which had funded the programme and provided staff and contacts.
''One of the real potentials for our future economic development is to fill the jobs that are there.''
The first Ready, Steady, Work course was run last November, funded by the Ministry of Social Development, which also provided staff to help run it. It was hailed a success and 24 out of 26 participants were offered jobs.
This year, about 25 young people took part and about 25 employers offered a range of jobs.
The first young person from the course began work last Friday.
The course began in November and finished last Thursday.
At the closing of the course, Mr Cadogan told participants they were no different from anyone else.
''It doesn't matter where you start, it's where you end.''
The group spent the last three days of the course at Telford, staying at the hostel, taking part in fitness exercises, and learning a variety of farming skills, from welding to milking and shearing.
''To go to one of the strengths of our district, Telford, and utilise their facilities and staff, has been tremendous,'' Mr Cadogan said.
The mayors' task force for jobs was created in 2000, with seven mayors, and now involves 65 out of 67 mayors. It aims to work with government ministers, officials, agencies, community groups and the private sector to reduce youth unemployment and improve youth engagement in the community.
