THE Salvation Army in Falkirk has been hailed for ‘transforming’ a man’s life through its initiative to help people gain a Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card.
After losing his job and struggling to leave the house following a serious injury three years ago, Steve turned to the New Future Training and Employability Centre at The Salvation Army’s community church at Woodside Court.
Steve said the support has ‘transformed’ his life, after he was able to obtain his CSCS card and is now working in the construction sector. He continued, “If it wasn’t for The Salvation Army, I wouldn’t be out working. I had been off my work for three years and it took a lot for me to even get out of the house. My confidence was shattered and the prospect of trying to get back into work filled me with anxiety.
“In the past I’d only really worked in warehouses. I didn’t want to go back to that life. I wanted to learn new skills. Someone told me about The Salvation Army doing CSCS card courses and I jumped at the chance.
“I came in every day and, with their help and guidance, studied hard. What made the difference though was the patience and kindness they showed me. They could have let me and the other guys study alone and just take the test but they encouraged us to study properly. They went above and beyond and I still regularly pop in to say hello or speak to others taking the course.
“The Salvation Army wanted to know about me as a person and so by the time it came to take the test I felt part of a community. I got the best grade possible and was able to find work pretty much straight away. Kerry, who helps run the service, even sat down with me recently and we did my self-assessment tax return together.”
Kerry Smart, project co-ordinator at the New Future centre, added, Â “We aim to provide more than just a training service. It would be easy to set up the classroom and let the services users get on with it. But we are invested in them, ensuring they make the most of their time with us. As a church as well as a charity, we’re putting our faith into action, just like we do when someone comes to The Salvation Army looking for support with food and other living essentials.
“As an approved Individual Training Account (ITA) provider, we can offer all of this training and the card for free to clients on benefits or earning less than £22,000 a year.
“We have so far put 241 clients through this ITA-funded training since January and continue to support private clients, many of whom are self-employed, by offering a unique after-hours service on Tuesday and Thursday.
“Our clients are now finding employment as a direct result of holding a current industry approved construction card. We also now offer the full range of manager and supervisor card training also.”
