Barnet Council’s Leader has welcomed the announcement that the council is set to receive more than £500,000 for two projects aimed at helping people into work.
Barnet is one of 72 councils which will receive a share of the £89.4m Transformation Challenge Award for 2015-16.
The Barnet projects are aimed at supporting young people at risk of becoming unemployed, not in education or training (NEET) and a pilot scheme to offer intensive support to help other residents into employment.
Leader of Barnet Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, said: “I am delighted that Barnet is set to receive such a significant sum which will improve residents’ prospects to get a job and keep it. Not only will the money improve the services we can offer people, it will also save the taxpayer significant money in the long run.”
Making the announcement, Local Government Minister Kris Hopkins, said: “The local authorities behind these projects have shown what can be done to improve the services people get, helping them to live independently and reducing demand for public services.
“By working with the local police, health bodies, Jobcentre Plus, voluntary groups and others they are eliminating waste and creating services which help people first time – not services which send people from pillar to post to get problems sorted.”
The successful bids are:
- £290,789 for the Working People, Working Places project. This two-year project will help people who are long term unemployed find and keep jobs.
- The project will use a joined up approach by working with Job Centre Plus, housing associations, public health, council benefits service and children’s services as well as the voluntary and community sector.
- £250,000 for Opportunities for Young People. This project, over two years, will identify and offer a range of support to students at risk of not engaging in either education, employment or training. It will work closely with schools as well as local employers and post 16 training providers.
An announcement is expected shortly on a third bid for a pilot project to help people with mental health problems back into work.
