A PROGRAMME supporting economically inactive and unemployed people in Clacks to progress into work has smashed all of its targets.

The Pre-Employability in Clackmannanshire (PEC) project, which launched earlier this year, has helped more than 300 Wee County residents by providing a range of supports including training courses and workshops, qualifications, work placements and much more.

PEC has backed an innovative Transition to Employment programme which supported a group of 16-24 year olds through training and work experience (pictured).

The project has also directly helped 40 people move into employment and delivered 80 qualifications with great feedback from participants.

Jamie Christie, one of the people benefiting, said: “If I never found PEC, I wouldn’t have managed to get all the relevant certificates and cards I was needing to progress further in the field of work I am really interested in.”

PEC is funded by the UK Community Renewal Fund and is a unique partnership of 10 third sector organisations who have delivered different elements and specialist providers.

They include Clackmannanshire Third Sector Interface (CTSI), Clackmannanshire Economic and Regeneration Trust, Apex Scotland, Forth Valley College, the Japanese Garden at Cowden, All Cleaned Up CIC, Recovery Communities Scotland, Ceteris, Resilience Learning Partnership as well as TCV and Scottish Autism.

CTSI's Anthea Coulter, who is leading the consortia, said: “PEC has been amazing and shown that tackling health issues and building skills at the same time really improves people’s chances to access work.

“It has provided real benefits to so many of our residents, and although the initial funding from the UK Government is finishing at the end of the year, we are hopeful that the programme will get new funding to let it help many more people.”

A wide number of Wee County community facilities have also benefited as they provided space for workshops in communities.

Dial-a-Journey also delivered a pilot college bus which was very well received and further investment in improved travel is being progressed.

Visit pec.scot for more details.