Barnsley needs you

A NEW initiative aimed at galvanising Barnsley’s community is being launched.

‘Barnsley Needs You’ will be officially launched on June 11 in front of an audience of leading figures from local businesses, community, voluntary and faith groups, education and employment service providers.

The aim of the year long initiative, which is being led by the Barnsley Work and Skills Board (BWSB) is to inspire, motivate and where needed goad organisations and individuals to improve their skills and offer more to help build a better Barnsley.

The campaign targets all levels and sectors of society from improving opportunities for jobseekers via training or volunteer work to professional development for business leaders to push Barnsley industries to the front.

The BWSB will also be announcing a series of quarterly events designed to challenge people’s perceptions of what they can do to help and to prove that everyone can do something, for themselves or for their neighbours.

The first competition, to be announced at the event, will focus on the value of better skills and training for employers and jobseekers and call for nominations for Barnsley’s Oldest Mentor – someone who is still passing on their knowledge, experience and skills to younger members of the community to help them back to work.

John Foster, BWSB’s chairman, said: “Everyone can do something. It’s up to Barnsley to heal itself and we need everyone on board to help achieve this goal. We hope that we can get people thinking what can I do to make my community better rather than sitting back and doing nothing.”

The BWSB was set up in 2007 in response to a government initiative – A New Deal for Welfare: Empowering People to Work.