Future Jobs Fund update
Funding will provide temporary jobs for long term unemployed in Cambridgeshire
The Cambridgeshire Together Future Jobs Fund has successfully created many job opportunities for eligible young people aged 18-24 years old in Cambridgeshire.
To date over 100 young people have started work in a variety of jobs, all with a community benefit, throughout the county.
The jobs, each lasting for six months and paying at least the minimum wage, have been created for young people who have been claiming Jobseekers Allowance for between six months and a year.
Young people affected most
The recession has disproportionately affected young people, who are struggling to find work in this tough economic climate and the Future Jobs Fund provides them with an opportunity to gain new skills and experience in a real job.
The Cambridgeshire Together Partnership was awarded the Future Jobs Fund contract by the Department for Work and Pensions earlier this year to provide job opportunities for eligible young people across Cambridgeshire. All applications for future jobs are made through Jobcentre Plus.
Cambridgeshire County Council is the Lead Accountable Body for the Future Jobs Fund and nextstep adult guidance service are coordinating the programme.
Employers involved in the Future Jobs Fund include members of the Cambridgeshire Together board, community and voluntary sector and social enterprise organisations. There are a wide variety of jobs in areas such as administration, conservation, grounds maintenance, healthcare and sport.
All employees under the Future Jobs Fund are receiving accredited training in Employability Skills, this covers CV writing, job search and interview skills. These activities are supported by Cambridgeshire County Council's nextstep Adult Guidance service, Adult and Community Learning and Connexions Young People's services.
Robert Stone, Clerk to Girton Parish Council, said: "Our employees under the Future Jobs Fund are doing a brilliant job and are making a real difference to our community"
The Cambridgeshire Together Future Jobs Fund is an excellent example of partnership working where committed organisations are working together to create varied and meaningful opportunities for young people to help them gain sustainable future employment.