A NUMBER of new team members have been brought on board by a local community group, giving the area’s unemployed a chance at a new career.

Auchinleck Community Development Initiative’s (ACDI) successful bid to the KickStart Scheme means that a total of 10 vacancies have been created across the organisation and five new employees have been hired already.

Amongst those to benefit from the first five places are Leon, who has joined the organisation’s Support to Engage Project (STEP) team.

He will help the team with providing financial advice to clients on subjects such as debt and budgeting.

Jay has also joined the STEP team and will be managing their social media accounts.

Meanwhile, Callum will be splitting his time between the STEP team and The Knowe Garden Centre, where he will be able to indulge his passion for photography whilst also learning about growing vegetables.

The team based at The Knowe Garden Centre has increased their numbers further with the recruitment of Kristopher and Fraser. They will be helping with

the planting and care of the wide range of plants at the garden site, which is located in Quarry Knowe, Auchinleck.

Other tasks at the garden include general upkeep and maintenance to ensure a walk around the garden is an enjoyable experience when it re-opens to the public.

The Kickstart Scheme is a UK Government scheme, which aims to provide young people aged 16-24 on Universal Credit and at high risk of long-term unemployment with meaningful jobs.

ACDI is well equipped to support the young people who take up these vacancies having provided numerous Community Jobs Scotland posts over the years.

The funding given to ACDI on the awarding of the KickStart scheme by the UK Government will provide a six month contract for each of the 10 new starts.

A spokesperson for the ACDI said: “These new employees will be a welcome addition to work alongside the core teams of the organisation, who have been carrying out vital work to support the local communities during the COVID-19 lockdowns.”