Jobs centre approaching the 50-day landmark

The group that has managed a Cork jobs centre voluntarily since losing its FÁS funding last December, is set to mark its 50th day of running the facility without any salary or support next week.

The ‘Friends of the Employment Resource Centre’ group is hosting an open day at the facility on North Main Street next Thursday, February 23rd, to mark 50 days since it reopened after FÁS terminated its contract with the centre.

“We have managed to pay our bills as they arise through the generosity of our customers and the general public,” said Jon Holford, spokesman for the group.

“Students attending classes have agreed to make a donation of €3 per lesson while canteen customers frequently bring in contributions in kind, or leave donations of cash,” he added.

Mr Holford said the centre was providing classes in IT, creative writing, music, art, homeopathy, and a growing range of language classes, as well as providing welfare and employment rights information, and free counselling.

He acknowledged the “hand to mouth” nature of the operation, and said the steering committee was investigating ways to put the Centre’s finances on a secure footing.