Vince Cable

Vince Cable, last Friday, launched RACC's new intern programme with the Principal and staff.

The RACC Volunteer Internship Programme is a three month scheme to enable adults over 19 to gain a nationally recognised qualification in Business Administration, IT or Customer Service and work experience skills. The work experience through volunteering takes place at the College and gives unemployed adults the skills, experience and work reference to enable them to progress to paid employment or further study. The College pays the Volunteer Intern bus/train fares to come to College as well as providing a lunch allowance of £2.50 per day so that there are no financial barriers to the scheme.

Vince Cable commented:

"The Adult College has come up with an excellent initiative to help residents who find themselves out of work. The College provides volunteer interns with skill training, work references and qualifications and will try to help with job placements. There are currently sixty applicants and as the problems in the economy continue there will be plenty of people wanting to make use of the programme."

Christina Conroy OBE, Principal & Chief Executive of Richmond Adult Community College added:

"This is an excellent scheme that combines practical skills-based training with a work experience opportunity to practice the skills and gain competency a in a work environment. Adults that have been out of employment as a result of redundancy, caring for others or long term unemployment find it very hard to get back into the labour market. This scheme helps local adults overcome the barriers to getting a job by gaining both experience and qualifications on a fast track Volunteer Intern Scheme. Currently we have over 60 applicants and we are keen that other organisations in the borough work with us so that we can provide even more placements for trained Volunteer Interns."