A NEW Community Job Club will open at the Lochgelly Centre next week.

It will be based in the Lochgelly Area Youth Room on Tuesday October 10, between 10am and 12noon.

This Job Club will run every Tuesday morning between 10am and 12 noon.

Staffed by a local Welfare Support Assistant, the Community Job Club is open to anyone looking to get back into work, find a second or better job or to learn new skills. It is for those who require access and/or help to get online and effectively use the Job Centre’s Universal Job Match system, a requirement if you are claiming benefits, as is learning to carry out and document regular online job search and successfully complete the online job application process.

Use the resources to send/receive emails, learn key interview techniques, create a CV that gets searched by employers and get online career information.

A deserved social break is a must for attendees when they feel like having time away from the computer to rest their eyes, refresh and socialise.

Staff at the Job Club also offer a range of Welfare Support Services including: help making an online Scottish Welfare Fund Crisis or Care Grant applications, parents with children at a local primary schools may be eligible to access additional financial support in times of need. Staff hold foodbank vouchers, travel vouchers for those in crisis. Help applying for benefits online, including Universal Credit and Job Seekers Allowance is also available.

Eddie King, Welfare Support Assistant for Lochgelly, Benarty Villages and Cardenden Villages explained: "Staff can also discuss any barriers to employment and sign post to a wide range of specialist support services: Disability Support (those with a physical or mental health condition and requiring additional support to move into employment or training), Vocational Training such as CSCS, IT skills, Fork Lift Truck, First Aid, Working at Heights, Community Based Adult Learning, Family Activities, Family Support into Work, Health or Family Related Advice Services such as CARF, Debt Management, Money Advice to help you and your family.

"Several of our partner organisations will regularly attend the Job Club to meet/support service users on a 1-2-1 basis and there is always a wide range of information, in a written form, on display or available on-line. Support to access an Individual Training Account worth up to £200 or find out what free courses are available at your nearest Learning Centre".

There is also advice on how to open a fee free Basic Bank Account with a High Street Bank - an account they don’t normally advertise, advise and support to keep yourself from receiving a benefit sanction and help if you do. Find out if you are eligible for a Job Centre + Travel Discount Card to get discounted travel on Stagecoach buses. Help working with your Job Centre Plus Work Coach to identify a route back to employment and support to appeal an unfair sanction decisions.

Why not pop in and have a chat with Eddie your Local Welfare Support Assistant. You may be surprised the range of services there is to be offered to you and your family.

Call, Eddie King, on 07751795372 and leave a message and he will get back to you or email Edward.King@fife.gov.uk