A CHARITY which works alongside food banks in the city has launched a job club to support people into employment.

Having opened a successful job club in Acomb, the CAP Job Club is now offering a free service in the east side of York to help equip people with the tools and skills to find work.

The job club starts at 1pm this Friday at Tang Hall Community Library in Fifth Avenue.

Ritchie Dealtry, York east job club manager, said: “Facing long-term unemployment is incredibly tough and can feel very lonely. Our club offers members practical help with their job search, but they also find support and encouragement of a community of people in similar situations who understand what they are going through.”

The Tang Hall Christian's Against Poverty (CAP) Job Club is a weekly drop-in group that combines one-to-one consultations, mentoring and coaching , group support and practical sessions that cover topics such as identifying strengths, CV writing and interview techniques.

The aim of the job club is to give confidence and help with applying for jobs, preparing for and attending interviews.

Help is provided with mock interviews, mentoring and working out plans to help achieve aims and ambitions.

Joanne Lynch, a job clubs coach, said anyone struggling with finding work was welcome to the club. She said many people who have attended the food bank at Tang Hall had been invited to come along.

She said: "With the food bank you are basically putting a plaster over the bleeding. For a variety of reasons people are not able to find work.

"This is addressing the root cause of why people need food banks.

"When people go into the job centre they have a five minute appointment - we take a much more compassionate approach. We want to really help people".

Guest speakers from local companies are invited in to share their knowledge and experience from an employer perspective, giving tips and advice.

- The eight week course will start at Tang Hall Library on Friday at 1pm. In the meantime, Acomb job club has started a third course at the Gateway Church. For more information and to register, contact 0800 328 0006.