Funding from a South Lanarkshire Council partnership with the renewable energy sector has helped fund employment in the area.
The local authority’s Connect2Renewables Employability initiative has helped people with employment.
The Banks Renewables Connect 2 Employability initiative is funded by a share of income from Middle Muir wind farm at Crawfordjohn and Kype Muir wind farm at Strathaven.
The funding was created to help people living within 10km of the windfarms unto employment by providing training in new skills or retraining, employability advice and support and to overcome transport challenges by helping with travel, training and childcare.
It has helped Lesmahagow High School pupil, Tanisha Sandford, from Coalburn, undertake lifeguard training at the village’s leisure centre.
She told Lanarkshire Live : “Being able to train locally as a lifeguard has been a real boost for me. It has not only provided a part-time job on my own doorstep it is also equipping me with a career skill I can take anywhere.
“When I go to university I will be looking for a lifeguard job at a local swimming pool. It is work that will fit really well around studying and help to keep me active.”
General manager of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, Kay Morrison, told us : “The additional funding from Connect 2 helped us deliver this lifeguard training programme at our Coalburn Leisure Centre.
“It benefits the individual but it also brings a community benefit by helping ensure we have the skilled staff on site to keep our customers safe.”
The initiative has provided financial support to deliver opportunities for over 400 local people living near the windfarms.
If you are interested in applying for support, get in touch by calling 0800 9520 070.
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