Successful Applicants Announced for Works for You Program

Published by the Department of Labour and Advanced Education

Monday, March 28, 2011

Unemployed and low-skilled Nova Scotians will be better prepared to find and keep work with a more than $5-million investment in 28 projects in the province's Works for You program.

Quotes

“Helping Nova Scotians find sustainable employment is key to growing our economy. It's part of our jobsHere strategy, and programs such as Works for You demonstrate our commitment to creating secure jobs and a secure future for Nova Scotia.” Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education

“This program allows Phoenix to provide highly innovative and effective support for our community's most marginalized youth. Young people get the opportunity to build their skills and be engaged in the labour market, while communities benefit from their hard work. The impact is tremendous.” Timothy Crooks, executive director, Phoenix

“We're working on a project to give back to the community and help others. At the same time, we're developing individual and group skills. It feels good to have your ideas valued.” Jon, a program participant

Quick Facts

  • The program provides funding to non-profit and other organizations that provide skills and workplace preparation training for people who are unemployed or who lack a recognized diploma.
  • The Department of Labour and Advanced Education today, March 28, announced the successful applicants to deliver the programs from a request for proposals.
  • Youth and Community: Working Together, sponsored by Phoenix, is one of the projects funded by Works for You. It addresses employment barriers of homeless and at-risk youth with pre-employment and essential skills workshops combined with research and community-based projects.
  • Works for You also supports projects for groups under-represented in the workforce, including Aboriginal Nova Scotians, African Nova Scotians, people with disabilities, youth, older workers, Acadian and francophone Nova Scotians. The program also targets women, income-assistance recipients, new entrants and re-entrants to the work force, and people who were self-employed.
  • The program, administered by the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, is funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement, which will transfer an estimated $85 million to Nova Scotia over six years to help low-skilled workers, those not eligible for Employment Insurance benefits, and groups under-represented in the workplace, find sustainable employment.
  • Following is a list of projects supported by Works For You for 2010-11:
    • CBRM Women at Work, Ann Terry Society
    • Path to Employment, Antigonish Guysborough Black Development Association
    • Constructing The Future – Phase II, Black Business Initiative Society, Halifax
    • New Glasgow - Second Chance, Centre for Entrepreneurship, Education and Development
    • Year of Change, Digby Area Learning Association
    • Jump Start to the Trades (West Hants), Enterprise Centre of Hants County
    • LifeWorx Corridor (East Hants), Futureworx, East Hants
    • Membertou Heritage Interpreters Training, Membertou 55 Plus Society
    • Works for You, New Waterford Employment Resource Centre
    • Rotary Club of New Waterford Mixed Reentry Program, New Waterford Rotary Trust Fund Society
    • Works for You Shelburne, Nova Scotia Community College
    • The OWL Project, People Plus Consulting Ltd., Halifax
    • Youth and Community: Working Together, Phoenix Youth programs, Halifax
    • Starting Point, Pictou County Womens' Centre
    • Transition to Employment, Richmond County Literacy Network
    • Works for You – Ready to Work Initiative, Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia
    • Formation et experience à l'emploi, Universite Sainte-Anne
    • Works For You, Valley African Nova Scotian Development Association, Kentville
    • Re-Entry To Employment, YMCA of Cape Breton
    • Second Chance – Preston Area, Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
    • FutureWorx Development Centre, Futureworx, Truro
    • Ready, Set, Go!, Reachability, Halifax
    • 3 Trades Construction Employability Training Project, Community Care Network
    • Active Partnership Strategy, Mic Mac Native Friendship Centre, Halifax
    • Women Unlimited, Wee Society, Halifax, Dartmouth and Sydney
    • IT Works for Women, Wee Society, Halifax
    • Middleton Job Coach Project, PeopleWorx Society
    • Jump Start to Trades, PeopleWorx Society, Kentville
    • Vocational Crisis Project and Employment experiences Opportunity, Collaborative Partnership Network, provincewide through 10 agencies

Learn More

Media Contact

Judy Munro
Labour and Advanced Education
902-424-0011
E-mail:

Images

Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More announces $5 million investment in Works for You program.
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Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More is joined by Timothy Crooks, executive director, Phoenix and program participant Jon Boucher for announcement.
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Phoenix program participant Jon Boucher tells Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More about his opportunity to learn new skills.
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Videos

Jon Boucher, a participant at Phoenix, describes his role on a community based project.
Phoenix executive director Timothy Crooks talks about the role the non-profit organization plays in addressing employment barriers for homeless and at risk youth.
Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More talks about the benefits of the Works for You program.
Maria Cain, executive director, HeartWood Centre for Community Youth Development talks about working with Phoenix.
Works for You EVENT

Audio

Labour and Advanced Education Minister Marilyn More says helping more people find sustainable employment is key to growing the economy.
Phoenix executive director Timothy Crooks says the funding allows for innovative and effective work with young people.
Jon Boucher, a participant at Phoenix, says he is working on project that gives back to the community, while helping others.