A HOUSING trust maintenance company has invested thousands of pounds to create more training and job opportunities for young people.

Weaver Horizons – which is responsible for the maintenance of Weaver Vale Housing Trust homes including Frodsham – has worked in partnership with Cheshire West and Chester to extend 10 Future Jobs Fund placements within the organisations.

Cheryl Quine, strategic project leader for Weaver Vale Housing Trust, said: “The trust is committed to supporting young people in the local community to find work and build a successful career for themselves.

“This investment will help extend the Future Jobs Fund training and employment opportunities we have made available for young people who had previously been out of work for some time.

“It is even more important that we show our support for young people in the current economic climate where many other businesses are downsizing and making fewer opportunities available.”

Weaver Vale Housing Trust is using money raised through its property maintenance provider, Weaver Horizons, from within its social landlord group to extend the placements for young people from the region.

The funding was generated from efficiency savings made on a building refurbishment contract with Cheshire West and Chester council.

Cheshire West and Chester Council leader Mike Jones said: “I’m extremely pleased that Weaver Vale Housing Trust has offered to work in partnership with the council and use this funding to invest in local young people and build stronger communities through employment and training.”

Weaver Horizons also provides its wide range of services to private customers and housing management companies. These services include the installation of bathrooms, kitchens and redecoration.

Graeme Cassidy, 23, of Sandiway, near Delamere, had been out of work for more than a year before applying for a role with the trust as a customer support assistant earlier this year.

“For the trust to extend my placement is just a fantastic opportunity for me to continue learning new skills and gain experience that will hopefully enable me to gain long term employment and build a career for myself,” he said.

Graeme’s role includes keeping track of improvements being made to trust properties, answering questions from customers and contractors, filing and archiving.

“I’m pretty much a sponge for information and do my best to know everything needed so that the team I work with can function efficiently,” he added.