Charities set to create 500 new jobs in Wales

Charities and voluntary organisations will create more than 500 new jobs across Wales between October 2009 and March 2010.

The funding for the jobs will come from the UK Government’s Future Jobs Fund after a successful bid was made on behalf of the voluntary sector, led by umbrella body Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).

The Future Jobs Fund aims to support long-term unemployed young people, and those in unemployment hotspots, by funding the creation of 150,000 new jobs across the UK during the next two years.

Over 100 organisations in Wales are part of the WCVA-led voluntary sector bid and will create jobs across a range of areas including environmental work, health and social care, childcare and youth and community work.

Organisations that are part of the bid include Wildlife Trusts, British Red Cross, the National Botanical Garden of Wales, Citizens Advice Bureax and smaller community based organisations such as nurseries, recycling projects, development trusts, Communities First partnerships, drugs projects and city farms in some of Wales’ most disadvantaged areas.

WCVA Chief Executive Graham Benfield OBE said: ‘It’s excellent news. Charities and voluntary organisations provide an ideal supportive environment for people getting back into the workplace and will offer varied and rewarding opportunities.

‘Any organisation that would like to find out more or apply to create jobs through WCVA should contact our Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 or help@wcva.org.uk’.