New programmes to target long term unemployed
18th June 2008
Southampton will receive part of an £80 million grant to help more people get off benefits and into work.
74 small areas across the UK will receive part of an £80 million grant from the European Social Fund each year for the next four years. 4 of the areas targeted are in Southampton- Bevois, Redbridge, Millbrook and Woolston- although neighbouring wards will also be able to access the new services.
The grants will fund work by VT Careers Management Southern to help people currently on benefits, including lone parents and those on incapacity benefit, back into work.
Unemployment, as measured by those claiming Jobseekers Allowance, has decreased considerably in the last 10 years, from 5.3% of the population of Southampton in 1997 to 2.2% today. However there are still pockets of the city where there are significant pockets of long term economic inactivity, particularly in the wards identified by the ESF.
Dr Whitehead said:
“I welcome the fact that some of the hardest to reach unemployed in Southampton will get this extra help. I hope it enables many to return to work and begin turning their lives around. It is simply wrong that anyone should have their working life written off just because they have been out of the job market for a long time.”
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More information
- A list of all the winning bidders for ESF funding is available here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/supplyingdwp/what_we_buy/european_social_fund.asp