£1.5 million funds over 200 temporary jobs

New Funding will provide over 200 temporary jobs for long term unemployed in Cambridgeshire

237 temporary jobs for young people and the long term unemployed will be created across Cambridgeshire thanks to £1.5 million received this week by Cambridgeshire Together from the Government’s Future Jobs Fund.

The partnership has been given the green light to create the jobs in tourism and leisure, community development, health and administration, with posts including finance and education, sports and fitness and the media.

Who will benefit?

The jobs are aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work and claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance for at least nine months. The long term unemployed aged 25 and over who are claiming Job Seeker's Allowance and live in areas where the unemployment rate is 1.5 per cent higher than the national average will also benefit from the new job opportunities.

Those qualifying for the scheme will need to apply through Jobcentre Plus, with successful applicants receiving at least the minimum wage as an hourly rate. Each position will last six months.

New skills

The first jobs will be available from February 2010. The job vacancies will be advertised via Jobcentre Plus over the coming months. The temporary jobs will give each successful candidate the opportunity to gain some new skills to help them compete in the job market once their job finishes.

The new employees will also receive accredited training in CV writing, job search and interview skills. These activities will be supported by Cambridgeshire County Council's nextstep Adult Guidance and Connexions Young People's services.

Councillor Jill Tuck, Chairman of Cambridgeshire Together and Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: “The recession has made it particularly difficult for young people who at the start of their working lives are finding it difficult to find employment. This scheme will also benefit those people who have been unemployed for a long time and are looking to gain new skills. These temporary jobs will help ensure that we do not lose a generation of young people and skills in hard hit communities to long term unemployment.

“Our success in attracting such a large amount of money shows the benefits of working together as a partnership. We know there are tough times ahead even though the economy is expected to improve. The OnePlace assessment, an independent report, praised Cambridgeshire for the way it has supported communities through the recession through its Weather the Storm initiative. We will keep working together to support our communities through these difficult times.”

______________________________________________________

Supporting hard hit communities through the recession is a key priority of Cambridgeshire Together