PRIME Cymru

PRIME-Cymru was founded by The Prince of Wales in 2001 to help people in Wales, over the age of fifty, who were being made redundant and their skills and experience being wasted. The initiative in Wales has resulted in over 1,400 people being helped to become self employed and helped to provide over 2,000 jobs.

PRIME-Cymru provides a more holistic service, offering support into employment, self employment or volunteering. PRIME works best when in partnership with public, private and the voluntary sector and is always keen to talk to potential partners to develop new ideas and approaches to help older people become and remain economically active.

The charity has also recognised that whilst some companies see the benefit of employing older people, many companies still operate under the myths and misperceptions regarding older workers and are reluctant to employ them. It has developed a training division to provide support for companies through information on age discrimination legislation and best practice. It sees the need to work with employers to provide the opportunities for its clients.

In 2007 PRIME-Cymru received funding from the Big Lottery to operate a project in the South Wales valleys that encourages people over fifty to engage in volunteering opportunities. It has proved so successful that it will be extending the project in 2008 into rural Wales.