Have work and need extra help? Hire a student

Youth Opportunities Program up and running, says Steinbring

Have you got work to do and need a little extra help? Hire a student.

Flamborough Connects’ Youth Opportunities Program is up and running and we are delighted to have our newest team member, Hilary Szwalek, on board to co-ordinate the program.

The Youth Opportunities Program is funded by the Government of Canada Summer Jobs Program and generous donations from the Rotary Club of Waterdown and the Carlisle Optimist Club. The program helps connect local youth to work and volunteer opportunities in the area.

In early June, Hilary co-ordinated a youth job fair, and over 50 local kids registered and five local businesses participated. YMCA Employment Waterdown provided job search information and Flamborough Connects provided great loot bags and door prizes (with funding from the Hamilton Community Foundation) to make the event fun and encouraging for first-time job seekers.

Now that pandemic restrictions are lifting, many local businesses are hiring. It won’t be long before local charities and non-profits start planning in-person events and recruiting for volunteers.

Do a quick scan of the local community Facebook pages and you’ll find creative posts by young entrepreneurs looking for opportunities to babysit, garden and landscape, provide household upkeep, and so on.

If you are a teen looking for opportunities, or a senior, mom or busy adult looking for an extra hand — and not following community social media pages — Flamborough Connects can link you up.

With the success of the recent job fair, Hilary is planning a Flamborough Virtual Youth Volunteer Fair in late September. All local agencies are welcome to attend, so start thinking about your volunteer needs for the fall and winter. Get in touch with Hilary for more information — hopefully we’ll be back to in-person fundraising and activities by the holiday season.

Would you like to meet Hilary and find out more about youth employment and volunteer opportunities in Flamborough? Hilary is in the Flamborough Connects office every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment.

She can be reached at hilary@flamboroughconnects.ca or 905-689-7880. Get in touch!