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- New drive to get long term unemployed back to work
New drive to get long term unemployed back to work
| Published | 28 May 2008 |
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Local Government Minister John Healey today announced details of a new review team to advise how steps to improve our most disadvantaged communities can make a real difference.
Chaired by Stephen Houghton, Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, the review will consider how the £1.5billion being invested by Government can make a real and lasting difference on the ground, drawing on experience from local government, business and charities.
Reporting to Mr Healey and Employment Minister Stephen Timms, the team will advise on what more can be done to help the long-term unemployed into jobs, and how councils can make the best use of the £1.5bn Working Neighbourhoods Fund over the next three years.
It will also consider how agencies like the Learning and Skills Council and JobCentre Plus can better tailor their services to meet the job and skills needs of the most disadvantaged areas.
Mr Healey also confirmed that of the 150 councils currently choosing their priority policies for the next three years through Local Area Agreements:
- 80 per cent have chosen to focus on reducing the numbers of 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or training (NEETs)
- Over 80 per cent have chosen to focus on tackling unemployment and benefit claimant levels, and
- 85 per cent of areas have chosen at least one skills target
Local Government Minister John Healey said:
"One of the toughest challenges our communities face is creating opportunities for those living in the most deprived areas.
"Giving people the support to get back into work can transform their life and can help transform their whole neighbourhood.
"Through our £1.5billion Working Neighbourhoods Fund we are putting councils and communities themselves in control. They are leading the drive to provide opportunities for people in our poorest communities to improve their skills and get a job.
"We are determined to break the cycle of deprivation that blights too many people's lives.
"This expert team will ensure the efforts of both central Government and local councils are targeted in the right areas, and in the right way, to make the maximum impact on those communities."
Cllr Stephen Houghton, leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council and chair of the review said:
"As leader of an authority where worklessness is a significant issue, I welcome the opportunity to make a contribution to the review.
"Many of our communities are blighted by worklessness and it is important that local Government, partner Agencies and Government Departments work closely together to ensure that people are offered the opportunity of gainful employment and to raise their prosperity as a result.
"I look forward to working with the rest of the team and officials to bring forward constructive proposals which should have a beneficial impact on many of our communities."
Last November, the Government launched the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, the first-ever dedicated fund for local councils to tackle worklessness in their areas. And earlier this year, it was confirmed that 65 councils representing the poorest neighbourhoods in the country will benefit, receiving a share of £1.5bn over the next three years. Those councils who meet key targets in their Local Area Agreement by 2010-11 will be eligible for a share in a £50m reward grant.
Notes to editors
1. Membership of the committee:
Councillor Stephen Houghton
Cllr Stephen Houghton is leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, chair of the Barnsley Local Strategic Partnership and commissioner at the Audit Commission. He is also chair of SIGOMA, the LGA Urban Commission and the Barnsley Miller Partnership. He was awarded the CBE for services to Local Government in 2004. Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council recently contributed to a Communities and Local Government workshop on employment and skills,
Steve Olive
Steve Olive is a former executive vice president of the Orange group and senior vice president International Human Resources and deputy head of Corporate HR for France Telecom. Steve is a visiting Fellow at the Nottingham (Trent) Business School, a member of the advisory board of the European Study Group and until recently a member of the UK government's Local Enterprise Growth Initiative Panel. Over the past five years Steve has advised Government Ministers on encouraging enterprise growth and tackling worklessness in deprived communities.
Clare Dove
Claire Dove is chief executive of the Blackburne House Group. She is also chair of the Social Enterprise Coalition, Board Member of the North West Regional Learning and Skills Council, Board Member of the Mersey Partnership, Governor of the Corporation Board of Liverpool Community College, Board Governor of Liverpool John Moores University and a council member at the Royal Society of Arts.
2. Allocations of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund were published on 5 February, 2008. Details can be found at: www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/683326.
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