Confidence booster for young unemployed

James Pickering

22-year-old James Pickering from Spotland, Rochdale had been unemployed for over three years before being recruited to a new scheme designed to give young unemployed people in the Rochdale area an opportunity to develop their environmental skills.

Mr Pickering says joining the Green Team has really boosted his confidence, “just getting back into the routine of going to work has been good for me,” he said. “At the end of the day I go home, tired but happy because I know I’ve done a good day’s work. It’s a great feeling.”

This year long training scheme which has been funded by both organisations and two ‘Green Teams’ are working on RBH estates and land to make small scale environmental improvement that will make a big difference to local people.

The recruits are aged 18 – 24 and are receiving training which will result in accredited certification that should ultimately help them find full time employment. This includes accredited skills in health and safety, manual handling, plastering, block paving, bricklaying, fencing and landscaping and other specific training will able be available at the trainees request.

Mr Pickering addeds: “It’s good to be doing work that is helping to make areas look better. I’ve got a young daughter myself and when we go out to nature areas near home I know the work we’re doing on Green Team will benefit people like her and her friends.”

The scheme is a joint intitative between Rochdale Boroughwide Housing and Groundwork Oldham & Rochdale.