UP TO 15 unemployed people are helping to clear the site of the new secondary schools at Les Nicolles. They will spend three months removing equipment, including 56km of aluminium guttering, 70,000 growbags and 600,000 dead roses from the two seven-acre greenhouses.

Education minister Martin Ozanne said that it would take a huge amount of work to prepare the site for building the new mainstream and special needs schools.

‘The clearance work being undertaken by the community and environment project workers will mean that the demolition work will be able to go ahead as soon as the States gives its approval,’ he said.

A policy letter from Education is expected to go before the House next month outlining the work needed to demolish the greenhouses and other buildings on the site.

Deputy Ozanne welcomed the fact that States Works, Social Security and Education were working together to progress the clearance.

The project could also give some jobless people the chance to re-enter employment.

Social Security, Education and Public Services have arranged to provide temporary paid work at above-benefit rates.

Since January, Social Security has taken over the running of the former fieldwork scheme.

The scheme, which was run by the Board of Industry, had trouble finding suitable staff to supervise work teams.

Now Social Security has contracted States Works to provide supervisory staff. It will organise projects the workers undertake and provide tools, clothing and transport.

Social Security minister Mary Lowe said the system was working well and that States Works had a wealth of experience in organising and supervising manual labour.

‘We could not have hoped for better cooperation,’ she said.

‘Unemployment levels are a little higher than in recent years and we have some people who are looking for manual work. They are doing a great job at Les Nicolles and I hope that, for some, this will lead to them getting permanent work again.’

She said a tremendous amount of support and encouragement would be given to help people get back into permanent employment.

Complementary initiatives include working with the College of Further Education to help people prepare their CVs and improve literacy skills.

Social Security deputy chief executive Graham Smale said that people who refused suitable employment had their unemployment benefit stopped for 10 weeks.

Those claiming public assistance from the parishes would have their case judged individually as, for instance, some had families to support, but in some cases benefit would be reduced or even stopped.

‘We will only put people on the scheme if we believe they can do the work as there’s nothing to be gained from recommending those who can’t,’ he said.

It is intended that workers will not be on the scheme for longer than eight weeks.

Project manager Nigel Dorey said that States Works was experienced in managing manual workers.

He said that he could find suitable staff through the project.

Four people have earned a permanent job with States Works this way and four more are on a short-term contract.

Sarah Burt, 19, has been on the scheme for two weeks. She was out of work for three months after completing an NVQ catering course at the College of Further Education.

‘The work is enjoyable but I would not want to do it full-time,’ she said.

‘I’m thinking about going back to the college to do an IT course and getting a part-time job in a pub as those are the two areas I’m interested in.’