Prime Cymru is a Charitable Organisation which helps people in the 50+ age range, set up businesses or find employment throughout the Bridgend area and beyond.
Royal charity’s Bridgend appeal
A royal charity that’s supported over 5,000 older people in their search for work has made an appeal to Bridgend people asking for their expertise.
Prime Cymru wants individuals with experience in public and private sector business to get in touch and share their skills with its Volunteer Mentoring project which helps Bridgend people aged 50 and over return to employment.
The scheme’s co-ordinator Hugh Davies said:
"Just a few hours of assistance a month can make a big difference towards helping economically inactive people overcome barriers and make positive changes in the purpose and direction of their lives."
The charity is also keen to hear from anyone aged 50 plus who wants support in seeking employment, setting up their own business and sourcing education and training or volunteering opportunities.
Prime Cymru, which was founded by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales six years ago, has offered free advice to over 5,000 people, helping launch over 1,200 businesses and create over 1,800 jobs.
In June this year Prime Cymru launched a Bridgend Volunteer Mentoring Scheme in partnership with the county borough council of Bridgend to support the area’s 31,200 people aged 50 and over who are economically inactive.
Mr Davies added:
"Our mission is to advance the level of support for this growing cohort of people but we need the public’s help."
In six years Bridgend’s 50 and over population has increased by almost 3,000 at a rate of over 6 per cent while the county’s younger population, aged up to 20, increased by only 300 or 0.9 per cent.
Mr Davies added that increased living costs caused by the highest rate of inflation for over a decade made it difficult for some older people to live on fixed incomes from pensions or savings without finding work.
He said the situation was also difficult for older people relying on benefits because they need to be at home to care for relatives or children.
The project wants to hear from people skilled in business, finance, recruitment, education and voluntary work.
Free professional training for Volunteer Mentors has being organised by the charity in Bridgend on Tuesday September 23 and expenses and vocational support will also be available to those recruited.
Anyone who can support the charity as a mentor or who wants to benefit from help provided by the scheme should contact Prime Cymru’s free on 0800 5874085, e-mail enquiries@prime-cymru.co.uk or telephone Hugh Davies direct on 01550 721813.
Prime Cymru is one of the Prince’s charities and its Volunteer Mentoring Scheme is funded by donations from The Welsh Assembly Government’s Active Communities Scheme and Lloyds TSB Foundation as well as Bridgend County Borough Council.
The organisation relies on charitable funding in order to carry out work anyone wanting to donate should get in touch on 0800 5874085.
The Best of Bridgend is keen to support the work of local charities and would love to hear from charitable organisations in the Bridgend area who would like to submit features or news items.