03.01.12
Welfare to work firms appointed
An extra £200m funding will help support troubled families to find work and deal with problems, including drugs and debt, ministers are expected to announce. The plan will be backed by the European Social Fund.
The initiative includes eight specialist Welfare to Work firms, appointed to help people with skills such as timekeeping, writing CVs and developing interview techniques. They will be paid by results to ensure progress is made. The firms will also provide advice on family finances, housing and health problems.
The Government has pledged to turn around 120,000 ‘troubled’ families, and has appointed a network of troubleshooters to identify and help those most in need. Local authorities will decide which families should be referred for this new support.
Employment minister Chris Grayling said: “The organisations taking part in this programme are staking their own money on their ability to turn the lives of these people around. There is a real commitment out there to deliver social change and to help people do much better with their lives.”
However, Labour has criticised the scheme, suggesting the there are few job opportunities in some of the most deprived communities, and unemployment could continue to rise.
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