Kemptville - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for an employment project. Gord Brown, Member of Parliament for Leeds–Grenville, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“For many young Canadians, making the transition to the job market is a challenge, especially in today’s environment,” said Brown. “That’s why our government is creating opportunities for youth to succeed through support for initiatives like the Bridging Youth project.”

With assistance from the federal Skills Link program, the Kemptville Youth Centre will help 10 youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.

Participants will attend life and employability skills workshops that focus on topics such as effective communication, leadership and teambuilding. Following the workshops, they will gain hands-on experience through job placements with local employers. The participants will also visit a post-secondary institution to explore educational options.

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, youth with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school.

The Kemptville Youth Centre will receive over $99,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Bridging Youth project.