Tús continues to find work experience for people in North Tipp
Despite the constraints of Covid-19, the Tús programme run by North Tipperary Development Company NTDC continues to help people find employment opportunities.
Established in 2011, Tús is a short-term community work placement programme run under the auspices of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. NTDC has a strong relationship with the Department and has been running a highly effective Tús programme in North Tipperary for almost a decade now.
The North Tipperary Tús service involves a team of six supervisors working between three offices in Nenagh, Roscrea and Thurles. They endeavour to find work for people in the areas where they live in, and have a particular emphasis on trying to facilitate people living in rural areas.
As well as securing paid work experience placements, Tús participants can avail of training courses in such areas as manual handling, health & safety, first aid, and the use of pesticides, etc. There are also learning modules in the areas of childcar and care for the elderly, with the support of the company’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
PARTICIPANTS TALK ABOUT TúS
Diana joined Tús last September. Living in Ireland since 2008, she qualified as a doctor in Poland but needs to upskill and improve her use of the English language in order to work as a doctor here.
Currently working in Nenagh's Thrift Shop, where she is enjoying conversing and engaging with people, Diana will begin studying medical administration though Tús in January. While she appreciates that she still has a “long road” to travel towards becoming a doctor here, Diana praised Tús for helping her with taking the first steps of the journey.
“They are such nice people working here. I know sometimes people refuse to come here but I don't know why. Maybe they are scared of it. But it depends on what you want to do - do you want to stay in the same position or do you want to grow?”
Tara has just started with Tús and is presently working at Nenagh Childcare Centre. Having previously worked at St Mary's Convent Primary School as a Special Needs Assistant, Tara availed of the opportunity to upskill with Tús so that she can work in childcare again.
She hopes to end her 12-month Tús tenure with a Level 5 QQI in childcare and go on and complete Levels 6 and 7 so she can work at a crèche. Tara hadn't previously heard of anyone in Nenagh taking part in the Tús programme, and she didn't know about it herself until she was asked to join
“I was so nervous coming in at the start!” she admitted. “I didn't know what to expect but they made me feel very welcome. They are easy-going here. It's a great opportunity and great way of getting experience.”
Daniel has been with Tús for almost a year now. His work experience programme involved grounds-keeping at a sporting facility in Nenagh. He has also been doing administrative work for the club, including logging membership receipts along with whatever else needs doing.
Daniel was previously unemployed and joined Tús to try and build some valuable work experience into this CV. “Most jobs you apply for look for a few previous years of work experience, so this will really help with that,” he pointed out. Ultimately, Daniel would like to get into voice acting for the likes of adverts and cartoons.
Carolina came to Ireland from Moldova 12 years ago. A school teacher in her home country, she had a poor grasp of English at the time of her arrival but addressed this problem through language classes at Teach an Léinn before moving on to QQI courses at Nenagh College and in Roscrea.
Now Carolina is on a Tús programme with Tipperary Lifelong Learning in Nenagh. “They have an amazing staff here,” she said of Tús. “They have helped me a lot. I urge people who are trying to find a job to try to join Tús because they will find great support with these people.”
Elizabeth came to Nenagh from Hungary nine years ago. She was a book-keeper in Budapest but found it difficult to get work when she moved here, following her daughters, who had moved to Nenagh previously, and grandchild.
Again, language was a stumbling block for Elizabeth but she is overcoming the problem with the help of Tús and presently gaining work experience in the Nenagh office.
“It was a very big surprise for me because a lot of people would not have me - I am very happy for that,” she said of joining Tús. “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to change and who wants to get working.”
“Any work experience is good work experience, so this all helps in the long run,” said Dean, who knows others who've been on the course and benefitted from it.
“Tús has given me the opportunity to work in a shop environment, learning all about customer service while gaining retail experience. These transferrable skills will help me the future.”
COPING WITH COVID
The challenge of Covid has not stopped Tús functioning as an organisation and they have been running online courses.
To be eligible to participate, applicants must be currently in receipt of job seeker allowance or benefit, and in receipt of payment for 12 months.
Tús is open and encourages people to call or visit their website, www.ntdc.ie to obtain further information. Find out more by phoning the Nenagh office at (067) 56676, or Thurles (0504) 90579, or Roscrea, (0505) 23379.