THOUSANDS of unemployed Liverpool people are to be helped to find work after the city council secured £5.7m of European funding.
The grant from the European Social Fund is designed to help fund the City Employment Strategy, an initiative which tackles worklessness on a local level.
The cash will be used to target 20,800 city residents and it aims to get more than 9,000 into work, with others engaged in searching for jobs or taking part in education courses.
The news comes just days after official figures revealed 18,836 people in Liverpool were claiming Job Seekers’ Allowance at the end of January, an increase of 6% from December.
The grant will be used to develop the work of the JET – Jobs, Education and Training – Service until 2011 and the transitional employment team.
Among the initiatives will be advice on managing debt.
Last night, deputy council leader Cllr Flo Clucas, who also oversees financial and European affairs, said the local authority was pleased it had secured the cash as it was well aware of the challenges in tackling worklessness.
“One of the barriers we have found to people coming off benefits and going into work is about managing money and debts.
“There is a comfort zone with benefits which some people know that bills may be paid and there is a fear that by taking a job they will have to take more responsibility for managing their money,
“By providing greater support and advice over these issues we can encourage people to seek work and come off benefits.
“We are also targeting particular groups, including lone parents, the over 50s and black and racial minority groups, who have particular difficulties in getting into the jobs market.
“Nobody is underestimating the difficulties of tackling worklessness at this time when unemployment is rising all over the country but we will be using this grant, which is given to Merseyside by the European community, to work with Jobcentre Plus and other partners to ensures many of our residents are as well equipped as possible to find work.”
A further £300,000 grant, part of the multi- area agreement, will deliver a pilot programme to provide advice for employers.
davidbartlett
