Bob Doris, SNP MSP for Glasgow has highlighted the over-subscription from the voluntary sector for up to 2000 employment places made available through the Scottish Government’s Community Jobs Fund.

The Scottish Government’s Community Jobs scheme provides money to pay for a job for a young person in a third sector organisation for a period of 6 months. The scheme has already received the support of 450 participating organisations, providing up to 2000 jobs.

Mr Doris, who has tabled a parliamentary motion to praise the role of third sector organisations in the Community Jobs Fund programme, commented: “The sheer range of organisations that have applied to help deliver the Community Jobs Fund, shows that the third sector is both motivated and well-placed to assist in tackling youth unemployment in our communities.

"I am particularly pleased to see housing associations in north Glasgow step forward and play their part in providing a young person with an employment opportunity. They are among the 450 organisations participating in the scheme across Scotland, which is win-win since both the organisations themselves and the young employees, who gain a stable job and enhanced future prospects, stand to benefit."

Mr Doris also highlighted how UK economic decisions were affecting Scotland. He added: “For the UK as a whole, unemployment levels are now at their highest since 1994. However, it is noteworthy that this is the twelfth consecutive month of labour market statistics where the Scottish employment rate has been higher than the UK rate – in fact Scotland's employment rate is higher than any other nation in the UK.

"Meanwhile, young people in Scotland are the casualties of a wrong-headed UK economic strategy and I am pleased that the Scottish Government are doing all they can to help where it has the powers and resources. The Community Jobs Fund is part of that approach."

Scottish Parliament Motion S4M-01356 - Scottish Community Jobs Fund (Glasgow):
That the Parliament commends what it considers to be the successful partnership between the voluntary sector, led by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition, and the Scottish Government’s Community Jobs Fund; understands that the partnership has provided young people with the opportunity to gain meaningful work experience and develop skills and confidence through six month’s employment in the third sector; welcomes the benefit it understands that this has already brought, by providing people with placements in each local authority area in Scotland, including the Glasgow-based Cadder, Cube and North Glasgow housing associations, Maryhill Citizens Advice Bureau and local leisure providers such as Possil Renewals, and thanks the 450 participating community organisations for their ongoing support and good work and for the vital role that it considers that they play in providing prospects for young people in economically challenging times.