Archive for October, 2009

Work trials and work experience will be made mandatory for the long term unemployed as part of a major expansion of employment support and welfare reform to get people back to work, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper announced recently.

The Government is rolling out the next phase of welfare reform designed to help more than three quarters of a million people back into work by the end of next year.

The Flexible New Deal (in now in force) involves private, public and third sector partners, and the first new starters under the £1bn Future Jobs Fund, alongside a major expansion of the successful Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs).

The Government believes that this extra help should be accompanied by a stronger responsibility for people to take up help which is on offer and could get them back into work. In trial areas from next year, where jobseekers have been out of work for more than six months (but have turned down work experience, support or training that could help them get jobs) may be required to take up a work trial or work experience placement as a condition of continuing to receive benefit.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said:

"A lot of people are still having a tough time finding work and we’re investing £5bn to give them more help. We’re working with businesses, local councils and voluntary sector groups as part of a major change in the way the welfare state delivers more personalised support to help people into work. But in return everyone has to do their bit to find work or take up the new help that’s on offer. Otherwise it’s not fair on everyone else who’s trying desperately hard to find a job and support their families."

The expansion of welfare reform and employment support includes:

• Thousands of jobseekers who have been out of work for a year will get tailored help to get jobs from specialist organisations through the Flexible New Deal. The contracts mean companies will be paid according to the number of people they get into sustainable work.
   
• The first of 150,000 jobseekers to be helped under the £1bn Future Jobs Fund have already started work in Barnsley. More than 120 new starters are filling a variety of new jobs at the local NHS Trust, local colleges, the Fire Brigade and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council.
   
• 500,000 more people are to be helped into work by the end of next year through an expansion of the successful Local Employment Partnerships (LEPs). LEPs, where businesses work with Jobcentre Plus to match people who are out of work, have already helped 250,000 people into work. This will include a significant increase in work trials and work experience placements which have proven effective.

Mandatory work trials and work experience will be developed through a pilot scheme in several areas from next year. Where jobseekers have been out of work for more than six months but have turned down work trials, support or training that could get them jobs, advisors will be able to require them to take up a work trial or work experience placement as a condition of continuing to receive benefit. The vast majority of jobseekers are working desperately hard to find jobs and are having a tougher time because of the recession. But a small minority of long term jobseekers do not currently take up the support on offer and are taking longer to find work as a result.

The Flexible New Deal also includes at least four weeks mandatory activity such as training or work experience.

Employment Minister Jim Knight said:

"The Government’s investment to help people back to work is having a very positive impact. It’s very pleasing to see the first people starting work today as a direct result of our Future Jobs Fund. Over the coming months we can expect to see more and more young people, and those in unemployment hot spots, finding work through this Fund.

“The Flexible New Deal is here to help the longer term unemployed develop new skills, build confidence and significantly increase their chances of getting into work."

Source:  Department for Work and Pensions

Young people will have the opportunity to take up one of 2,000 sports jobs such as coaching football, swimming and tennis under the Government’s Future Job Funding (FJF) scheme. 7,500 sports jobs are expected to be created, bringing the total number of jobs that will be created through FJF so far to almost 55,000.

The new sports sector jobs will be created across England by the National Skills Academy for Sports, offering young people the opportunity to gain skills in coaching, leadership and sport development. They will also encourage wider community involvement in health and fitness including gymnastics, swimming and boxing.

Up to 200 sports coaching jobs are being created through the Football League Trust meaning all 72 clubs will have the chance to give youngsters in their community the opportunity to work for them.

Further jobs are also being announced this round in horticulture, renewable energy, construction and the NHS.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said:

“We’re determined to do everything we can to help young people get their first job despite the recession. Never again must we see a generation lost to work. That’s why it’s so important that sports clubs across the country have now signed up to do their bit to give thousands of young people a kick start in their careers.

“So far our innovative Future Jobs Fund has provided the money to create almost 55,000 jobs for young people and those in the hardest hit communities.

"We know things will be tougher for some time and unemployment is likely to keep increasing for a while even once the economy is growing. But that’s why we’re so determined to keep increasing support so that young people can get the jobs and training they need."

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Ben Bradshaw said:

"Today’s announcement is a big boost for community sport, giving it a share of £1bn Government investment. In partnership with the National Skills Academy for Sport and the Football League Trust, it will create exciting new opportunities for young, unemployed people.

"These jobs will help to create a new generation of talented sports coaches, administrators and community health workers – exactly the people who will help us deliver a lasting legacy from the London Olympics by getting two million more people more active by 2012."

Dame Kelly Holmes, founder of Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust said:

“As founder of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, a charity that inspires young people to find and fulfil their potential in life, we warmly welcome Yvette Cooper’s commitment to creating more jobs for young people in this far reaching initiative.

"These jobs will provide real opportunities for the unemployed, who currently have few prospects in life, to gain employment in an area in which they have a real affinity and which motivates them to succeed. We look forward to working with the National Skills Academy who have brought together a range of organisations from sport and the charitable sector who will now make a real difference to the futures of young people."

The Future Jobs Fund will provide funding for 150,000 jobs at least 100,000 for young people and 50,000 for unemployment hotspots. So far the fund, worth about £1bn, has approved bids to create up to 55,000 jobs.

The Prime Minister announced that young people could, from now on, apply for jobs under the fund after being unemployed for 10 months rather than 12 meaning they will get the skills and experience they need even sooner.

Source: Department for Work And Pensions