Skills Link funding available

Organizations wishing to hire youth are encouraged to apply for funding through the Employment and Social Development Canada's (ESDC) Skills Link program, says Minister Richard Brown, Workforce and Advanced Learning.

“Funding through Skills Link provides job opportunities to youth who are trying to overcome barriers to employment,” said Minister Brown. “Island organizations can benefit from this funding while assisting local youth in gaining employment and increasing their skill-sets. Skills Link is part of the federal Youth Employment Strategy which recognizes the importance of our youth, the future leaders of Canada.”

The Government of Canada, through ESDC, recently launched a national call for proposals for its Skills Link program. Applicants from across the country can apply to fund projects, through two streams, that incorporate essential skills through group-based employability, work experience, and entrepreneurship interventions. Stream one projects target green jobs; essential skills; female at-risk youth; indigenous youth; etc. Stream two projects focus on social innovation, including innovative approaches and social enterprises.

Projects can be provincial, territorial, or local in scope; however activities must be confined to one province or territory. Projects will aim to assist youth overcome current barriers, including challenges faced by immigrant youth; youth with disabilities; single parent youth; youth who have not completed high school; indigenous youth; youth living in rural or remote areas, and more. The deadline to apply for is Friday, August 12, 2016.

The additional investments in youth will complement work being done in Prince Edward Island to ensure more youth gain meaningful work experience in the private, non-profit, and public sectors.

Visit Skills Link for more information.

Media Contact:
Sheila Kerry

slkerry@gov.pe.ca

Tel: (902) 620-3688