A determined teenager from Bargoed has battled through the tough employment market to find his very first job.
James Wilkes, 19, sought advice from QWEST (Quality, Work, Employability, Skills and Training), after struggling to find work after leaving school.
The project which is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government, and led by the University of South Wales, aims to tackle economic inactivity and unemployment across the Heads of the Valleys.
After a difficult time at school as a result of bullies, James left school with few qualifications and low self-esteem, although Louise could sense he had a lot of potential.
QWEST helped James complete a number of training courses including interview skills and Community Development Level 1. He volunteered with charity Groundwork, and even won the Green category at the Wales Volunteer of the Year Awards 2013 and the Caerphilly Voluntary Sector Achievement Award 2013 for his work promoting sustainability and renewable resources in his local community. More recently James won the green volunteer for Pride in your Place Awards in November 2013.
James (pictured below) is embarking on a life-changing journey and leaving his family home in Bargoed to move into his own place in Dorset where he has found work at a café.
He said: “I am so excited to finally be working, and I have developed a new skill and passion for baking cakes. It’s a great feeling to be earning my own money and not having to rely on Jobseeker’s Allowance.”
