Over 11 million young people have already participated in LifeSkills since it launched 7 years ago
BARCLAYS LifeSkills has announced various new charity partnerships to help support individuals in the Scottish and UK labour markets to continue working despite the Covid-19 outbreak. These programmes will help workers remain and progress in their employment, support the ageing workforce and increase employment skill levels.
Barclays has also teamed up with social enterprise ‘The Wise Group’ in Scotland, who will work with the bank on a one-year programme in Kilmarnock to deliver LifeSkills resources to individuals including the long-term unemployed, lone parents, and ex-convicts.
Since 2013, the LifeSkills programme has been supporting young people to gain the core, transferable skills needed to succeed in the workplace, with more than 11 million having participated to date. The programme was extended at the end of 2019, to help all generations in Scotland and the UK to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need.
The partnerships announced today will reach almost 200,000 adults who are most in need of greater, more bespoke support to get into, stay, and progress in the workforce. Focusing on their most immediate needs and tackling the practical and emotional challenges along the way.
Kirstie Mackey, Head of LifeSkills created with Barclays, said: “Making opportunities as inclusive as possible for all is key to boosting our labour market and helping the Scottish and UK economy to recover post-Covid.
“The expertise of all our charity partners coupled with the scale of our LifeSkills programme will benefit some of the most vulnerable groups in society, whether they are struggling with confidence, developing their skills, juggling caring responsibilities, or returning to work after illness.
“We’re incredibly passionate about all the causes that our charity partners fight for and looking forward to working together to tackle some of the biggest barriers faced in getting into and progressing in the workplace.”
