New library program to help displaced workers
By Dale Woodard on March 12, 2021.
A new program to help people displaced from work take the steps back to employment is being offered through the Lethbridge Public Library.
Read On Adult Literacy & Learning at Lethbridge Public Library announced Wednesay it has received funding to test a new program – Moving Forward, New Opportunities, New Lives – that will help participants improve their understanding of Canadian workplace culture and expectations and the literacy and essential skills that are required in today’s workplace.
The program runs April 12 to May 7 and focuses on displaced workers who have lost their job in the past five years due to workplace closure, plants moving, job or shift cuts, natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic.
“In December the rate of unemployment in this area and Medicine Hat was one of the highest in the province. It’s not unique to our area. We know everywhere across the country and the world has been affected by COVID,” said Lil Radley, coordinator of literacy services at Lethbridge Public Library. “It’s through federal funding that comes from Decoda Literacy Solutions. In Alberta, we have a provincial literacy organization and this is B.C.’s. It’s part of a three-year study identifying gaps in worker’s literacy and essential skills and to provide supports that could lead to new employment opportunities. That’s what Moving Forward is focusing on. We hope these students are moving forward and that there will be new opportunities for them.
“It’s pretty scary when you’re in that situation where you don’t have a job and you can’t find a job. So we’re going to focus on things such as their understanding of Canadian workplace culture and expectations. We’re going to zero in on their knowledge of essential skills (such as) reading, writing and communication, all of the skills that are so important in today’s work place.”
Moving Forward is a no-fee, four-week, online program.
In addition, participants may receive two to three hours of learning assistance from Read On’s volunteer tutors.
“It’s a very important program because we offer some hope to any displaced worker struggling to find employment,” said Radley. “We know of people who don’t have that opportunity to improve their essential skills required in today’s workplace. It’s likely they will keep falling behind because the job market is so competitive. We have so much talent in our country and sometimes people need that little bit just to keep going forward.”
This assistance may go on after the program is completed. Registration for the program is now open.
Visit http://www.lethlib.ca/readon for full details and to register.
“We’re just starting and there has been interest there,” said Radley. “Our program lead has spoken to some and will be speaking to more. It’s limited to 15 people, but if there are more we’ll put them on a waiting list so they’re aware of when the next one will happen and it will be through the library this time. It’s very exciting and it’s very much needed.”
Lethbridge Public Library’s Read On Adult Literacy & Learning offers barrier-free learning to adults in Lethbridge and area. Read On offers one-on-one tutoring and foundational skills classes to approximately a Grade 9 Level (Canadian Language Benchmark 7).
“As we’re a library program, it could be some of the students who have that initial help from our volunteer tutors will be able to continue building on that help,” said Radley.
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