Community Employment Programme

Our Community Employment (CE) programme provides employment and training opportunities to those that are unemployed.  Funded by the Department of Social Protection, 16 positions are available in different work areas.  Participants work for 19½ hours per week over a maximum of 3 days.  They contribute to the work of the Centre, while at the same time enhancing and developing their personal and work skills in preparation for returning to the workplace.

The work of the CE participants alongside the Cavan Centre’s full-time staff makes it possible to deliver our programmes to the marginalised and disadvantaged groups that avail of Centre.

Work is available in different areas

Catering & Accommodation
Maintenance & Grounds Keeping
Clerical Work
Youth & Community Work

How does it work?
To take up a position on a CE project you must be:
*  aged between 21 and 65
*  registered as unemployed with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) for at least 52 weeks
*  currently receiving a payment from DSP – Jobseekers, Disability, One-Parent Family and Widow/er payments all qualify.

Payment
DSP payment ceases on taking up a place and the minimum pay while on CE is €259.50 per week (as of 1st January 2024). 

Training
Training is an integral part of participation on CE.  Participants initially receive training relevant to their work on the project e.g. Manual Handling, Safe Pass, Food Hygiene, Child Protection Awareness.  Ongoing on-the-job training and mentoring is provided in all work areas. Participants are encouraged to take up specific training or learning to enhance their skills/knowledge or to gain a formal qualification, that would improve their employment prospects after CE.  Cost associated  with training courses is covered by the project’s training budget.
Participants have been successfully supported to achieve QQI qualifications in a variety of areas including Youth Work, Social Care, Culinary Techniques, Horticulture, Health Care, and Payroll and Accounts.  Industrial awards or qualifications in operation of plant and machinery have also been obtained.

Progression
The aim of Community Employment is to progress participants to employment or further education at the end of their allocated time on CE. The Project Supervisor supports participants in achieving their desired progression.  Assistance is provided with CV preparation and employment applications.

Participants have successfully gained employment in the trades, clerical work, retail, social care and community work while others have progressed to college to continue or advance learning commenced on CE.         

Vacant CE positions are advertised on the Jobs Ireland website www.jobsireland.ie or contact Teresa at the Cavan Centre to express interest teresa@cavancentre.ie or 049 854 4436

Click link to watch a short video with further information on the support and assistance Community Employment can provide    https://vimeo.com/523868167

 Job Initiative Programme
The Employment Network (TEN) located in Dublin's north inner city, has allocated one full-time Maintenance worker to the Cavan Centre under their Jobs Initiative Programme, which is funded by the Department of Social Protection.

Rural Social Scheme
 This scheme, also funded by the Department of Social Protection, provides income support for farmers, in return for carrying out community work for 19½ hours per week.  Cavan County Local Development oversees the scheme in county Cavan - the Cavan Centre is allocated one long-term Maintenance worker.