COUNCIL WINS SUCCESSFUL FUTURE JOBS FUND
BID
PRESS RELEASE
10 November 2009
Following a successful bid for a major central
government grant (the Future Jobs Fund), the Council is preparing
for up to 30 new temporary posts and up to £1.2 million of funding
over the next 18 months. The grant will enable Environmental
Services create jobs for young people who have been unemployed for
12 months or more.
The current recession has caused the numbers
of long-term unemployed in the Borough to rise from less than 10 a
year ago, to over 60 this month. On the basis of current
trends, we could shortly be seeing over 100 people aged 18 - 24 in
Melton who have been unemployed for over 12 months.
Nationally, the Department of Work and
Pensions (DWP) has launched the Future Jobs Fund to help stem the
rapid growth in long-term unemployment among young people, and
avoid the creation of a new generation dependent on welfare. Young
people typically find it particularly difficult to compete with the
thousands of older job-seekers, and so the DWP is supporting local
authorities and other organizations to create of up to 150,000
posts nationally for the long-term unemployed within this
age-group. This directly targets an age group which is
vulnerable to unemployment and helps counter the risk of
criminality and family breakdown.
Although these posts are mainly going to be
created in Environmental Services, a few may join other departments
and external contractors as well. A seminar will be held shortly in
the Cove to explain the way the scheme is due to work and the
selection process. The seminar will be promoted by
Jobcentre plus, aimed at claimants who meet the criteria.
The additional operatives will enable teams on
tasks such as working in our priority neighbourhood on our priority
areas, picking litter, removing chewing gum in the Town centre,
painting street furniture and repairing the surface of worn
footpaths. Councillor Nigel Angrave said “We want to take on people
who care about the local environment, can work independently, and
who are willing to do a good job for us”.
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For more information please
contact:
Paul Evans
Melton Borough Council
Telephone: 01664 502322
Email: cmarshall@melton.gov.uk
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