13.09.04
Cornish Youth Hostels Launch Tourism Jobs Initiative

CORNISH Youth Hostels are launching a new initiative to help jobless people from across Cornwall find jobs in the tourism industry.

The project, entitled Expanding Horizons, has been developed by the Youth Hostels Association (England and Wales) and Jobcentre Plus in Cornwall, and invested in by Objective One through the European Social Fund.

YHA is working with local tourism businesses to identify what skills are required and participants will have the chance to train for a range of different jobs, from surfing instructors and lifeguards to licencees.

There will also be courses for improving IT literacy through the European Computer Driving Licence programme.

Next month, two information days to give people the opportunity to find out more about the help on offer and the training available will be held at:

• YHA Treyarnon Bay, near Padstow, on Tuesday 5th October 2004 from 10.30am - 4.00pm

• YHA Penzance on Thursday 7th October 2004 from 10.30am - 4.00pm.

YHA ESF Field Officer for the project Caroline Payne said: "All training programmes will be tailored to closely match the skill requirements of participants and businesses. As well as using the funding as effectively as possible by co-ordinating relevant hands-on training and work experience, we will be offering other forms of support such as transport to and from training and help with job applications and CVs.
"We want the outcome of this project to be people getting jobs in the Cornish tourism industry."

Jacki Williams, European Social Fund Manager for Jobcentre Plus in Cornwall, said: " I am delighted that this project will address the needs of the tourism industry by providing 40 jobless people with the opportunity to gain the skills they need to return to work. The project will also be working with eight small and medium sized businesses providing them with trained staff to fill their vacancies."

Anyone wishing to find out more about the programme should contact Caroline Payne on 01752 813921 or Lynn Eatherden on 01629 592775. Alternatively, email carolinepayne@yha.org.uk.

To arrange interviews, photographic or filming opportunities, or for any media enquiries about YHA, please contact YHA Communications Officer Rob James on 01629 592775, email robjames@yha.org.uk.

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Editor's notes:

• Jobcentre Plus has received over 8 million pounds from the Objective One European Social Fund over 4 years. To date we have supported 1,082 jobless people back to work and 1,545 into training. For more information please contact Jacki Williams, 01872 354127

• YHA is a registered charity and aims "to help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, particularly by providing hostels or other simple accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their health, rest and education."

• We operate 227 Youth Hostels in England and Wales and have 300,000 members.

• In 2005, we celebrate our 75th anniversary.

• To find out more, visit to our website at www.yha.org.uk or telephone 0870 770 8868.

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Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01579 370991
lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

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