Trail’s WorkBC Employment Centre introduced a revamped Skills Centre at the beginning of April.
The Skills Centre change-over was created to address gaps in the system. Previously, Trail had eight different employment programs being delivered through six different agencies, B.C. offered 10 and many clients expressed confusion about the uncertainty of the programs.
“There was a lot of uncertainty among clients,” said Carol Corbett, the employment and human resources service manager at the Community Skills Centre.
The new model aims to simplify the process, and aid people through the challenges of unemployment or being underemployed. The employment program is funded by the province of B.C. and the Federal Government of Canada.
“Hopefully it streamlines things for people, and makes it less confusing,” said Corbett.
The Skills Centre and Career Development Services will provide support for people who need additional training, wage subsidies or career advice. There will also be a service offered for victims of abuse through a referral process.
“We’re expecting to see 800 people this year,” said Corbett. “And that’s not including self services.”
The Skills Centre caters to people who need case management services, access to public computers and career assessments. In order to be eligible to case management services, applicants must not be in school, work for 20 hours or less per week and be at least 16 years old.
The Skills Centre will continue to offer a number of other programs in addition to the provincial employment program, including the Skills Connect Employment Program for Immigrants, Social Enterprise Solutions, Welcoming Inclusive Communities and Workshops, Training Solutions, Targeted Skills Shortages Program and the Women Creating Change project.