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

In light of the disheartening fact that around 2,350 people in Brighton and Hove have lost their jobs in the last year, City College Brighton and Hove has launched an initiative called SHINE which provides a range of free short courses designed to give unemployed people the edge when they’re applying for a job. The news has been welcomed by Tony Mernagh, Chairman of the Brighton and Hove Economic Forum. Mr. Mernagh says:

“When people lose their jobs it is a personal disaster but it’s absolutely essential that they do something valuable during their period of unemployment and taking part in training clearly shows employers that they’ve used their time wisely. City College has an excellent reputation in the local training sector for being responsive to the needs of local employers so it’s ideally placed to deliver these types of courses.”

SHINE courses are available to those who have been claiming jobseekers allowance for six months or more. City College is working in partnership with Job Centre Plus and candidates are referred to the College via Job Centre Plus’s advisers. The College aims to utilise its existing relationships with employers to provide sustainable employment opportunities for these candidates. Once in employment, the College will be encouraging employers and candidates to continue their training through the College’s Train to Gain programme.

Free short courses on offer include: Health and Safety in the Workplace, Food Safety in Catering, Door Supervisor, Conflict Management, First Aid, Barista (Coffee making), National Certificate of Personal License Holders, Infection Control in the Care Environment, Customer Service and Call Centre Training, Applying for a Job, Preparing for Interview and Planning an Enterprise Activity.

For more information on the courses, call 01273 667788 and ask to speak to the SHINE adviser.