Jobs boost for Gloucestershire's unemployed
AN £800,000 lifeline was thrown to some of the growing army of unemployed youngsters in Gloucestershire yesterday.
The Government agreed to fund the creation of 130 new jobs in the county specifically for young people.
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They will be offered jobs in various sectors including community work, support work, healthcare, administration, leisure and tourism.
The successful bid was made by Gloucestershire First – the private-public partnership responsible for driving the county's economy.
Yesterday Prime Minister Gordon Brown told union members at the Trades Union Congress: "We will not allow a new generation of young people to become a lost generation. We won't let that happen – never again."
Alarm is mounting over the increasing number of young people unable to find work.
A quarter of all those claiming unemployment benefit in Gloucestershire are now aged 18-24 – some 3,000 people.
Many of those are Neets – youngsters who are not in education, employment or training.
Yesterday's announcement was welcomed by business leaders in the county.
David Owen, chief executive of Gloucestershire First, described the news as a shot in the arm for the county.
"Our share of the fund will mean a brighter future for 130 young people in Gloucestershire."
He added he had not yet received details of the final figure but expected it to be about £800,000.
"The fund will enable us to concentrate on the county's unemployment hotspots and the most deprived communities, where there is greatest need.
"I hope that our 18 to 24-year-olds will grasp this pathway to a brighter future by obtaining work in those areas which are of interest to them and hold out the prospect of a long-term career.
"Nationally the fund has been tasked with creating 150,000 new jobs including apprenticeships and we are delighted that our bid has been successful.
"It follows closely on the heels of securing £500,000 in response-to- redundancy funds from the European Social Fund and the £5 million initiative, Gloucester Works, which is now being used to reduce long-term unemployment in Gloucester."
He added: "Locally we have had a very positive response from employers in the private and public sectors, who have come forward with job offers."
Gloucestershire College principal Greg Smith said: "This is great news for Gloucestershire.
"We have a low Neets population but things are starting to get difficult for youngsters. Any funding to help alleviate the problem is good news."
The funding will come from the Government's Future Jobs Fund. Yesterday it also announced it was creating 2,000 sports jobs in such areas as coaching football, swimming and tennis.
12 Comments
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by Mike, Cheltenham
Thursday, September 17 2009, 9:57AM
“What about me?
A 37 year old who has worked since I was 16. I got made redundant earlier this year, With very little chance of getting a job in my previous trade due to it slowly disappearing. I ask about retraining, Nothing available.
I wanted to study but I would have lost my benefit, So I was unable to pursue this.
What is available for the over 35's. The ones who need jobs to support family etc. I am sorry but I believe I deserve at least equal support in getting work.
I am disgusted with the emphasis being placed on the young It should be available for everyone between 16 and 65.”
by Steve McQueen, Glos
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 5:27PM
“The usual imbeciles on here today I see spouting the same old tired nonsense - send the immigrants home, blame the government for all your troubles, blah, blah, blah.
This is a positive step to help young people in the county. It should be welcomed by any sane people
As for the immigrants, at least most of them are prepared to do the graft (unlike the lazy locals). If it wasn't for immigrants this country would be in a lot worse state than it is today.
We should encourage the lazy Brits to emigrate instead of turning the immigrants away!”
by Takeaway, Cheltenham
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 4:34PM
“For those who want immigrants to "go back home". - To make things fair, the countries that have employed British workers abroad should send them back to the UK. I cant imagine how the figures will work, but I should imagine that we would be back to square one.”
by chivvers, bunker
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 3:37PM
“c williams, dont you mean 61 million....were all unemployed arent we, blame the state, those imbeciles couldnt manage their way out of wet paper bag, no actually its the immigrants fault, no wait blame the emmigrants for leaving and creating more room for immigrants.....aggghhhh im soooo confused
Bottom line this story is about helping people in a time that sucks for a lot of us. Im luck enough to be in work and do sympathise but moaning and blaming everyone else doesnt achieve anything, now what was my point i forget??”
by Paula, Glos
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 3:23PM
“my daughter is 18 just finished a levels doesn't want to go to uni and run up debt. just wants a decent full time job, keeps being told has no experience! where is shesupposed to get it from? any suggestions”
by c williams, glos
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 12:13PM
“Send all the immigrants back home and then wages for the lowest paid will stop being supressed.
The real unemployed figure is 6 million and not these stupid figures the labour party come out with”
by unempolyed, cheltenham
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 11:13AM
“i agree what about the people like me over 24 upwards that are trying to find work and i agree send the immigrants back and we might stand a chance of getting work”
by Anon, Cheltenham
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 11:08AM
“The Government and the DWP are obsessed about ensuring young people get jobs and training. For us older people who have been made unemployed who have mortgages and other commitments the Government and DWP seem to offer NO support at all. Can I, at 42 get training to find a new job? NO! So why should young people get it?
If you've been unemployed for more than 6 months and you have a partner that works full time you get no benefits or support at all apart from your NI contributions being paid.
Is there a Cheltenham Works or is it only people in Gloucester who get access to this £5m initiative? If so why?”
by Emma, Gloucs
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 10:27AM
“What about the people over the age of 24 who families and mortgages??”
by Here we go again, Gloucs
Wednesday, September 16 2009, 10:20AM
“What an absolute farce. Typical of Nu Labour not to have the slightest realisation that state "created" jobs are paid for by taxation...high taxation depresses economic activity...so creates the need for more state created jobs.. all the time bringing no new money whatsoever into the economy.
And why the hell are they creating jobs in things like football? Are footballers not well enough paid to be able to pay back training loans like other students have to?
Wake up Gloucestershire First, your job is to increase BUSINESS in Gloucestershire, not massage employment figures with non-jobs.”