The Communities for Work programme

WRITTEN STATEMENT
BY
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT
TITLE
EU funds announced for the Communities for Work programme
DATE
4 June 2015
BY
Lesley Griffiths AM, Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty
I wish to update Assembly Members on the Communities for Work programme. Today, EU
funds of £18 million have been confirmed to support economically inactive and long term
unemployed individuals over 25 years of age with complex barriers to employment, to reengage with the labour market. This approval, as part of a total investment of nearly £30
million matched by the Welsh Government and DWP Job Centre Plus, will support over
6,000 individuals and represents the first phase of this three-year programme of work, to be
delivered alongside complementary youth activity (16–24 years) which I will bring forward at
a later date.
The Communities for Work Programme will operate alongside Communities First, (CF)
providing support for unemployed people to return to work. It also aligns closely with the
Welsh Government’s Tackling Poverty Action Plan and Child Poverty Strategy for Wales.
Supported by EU funds, Communities for Work is an advisory service working with people in
the most deprived communities, including the 52 CF areas across Wales, to increase the
employability of economically inactive and long term unemployed adults who have complex
barriers to employment. It combines the experience and best practice from previous
successful programmes such as Want to Work and other programmes which have been
supported through CF, such as the Parent Employer Adviser Shared Outcome Initiative and
the Lift programme.
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The programme will support the shared strategic objectives of Welsh Government and the
European Social Funds (ESF) Structural Funds to reduce poverty. Communities for Work
will proactively engage with participants furthest from the labour market, who are likely to
have low skills and other complex barriers and will have a high number of people from
workless households. By building on the infrastructure of CF, we will build on a trusted
programme reaching those in greatest need of support. Communities for Work will provide
intensive job seeking guidance, balancing participant aspirations against local labour
demand.
Communities for Work is also building on the best practice of the Welsh Government’s Lift
programme, specifically aimed at supporting individuals from workless households.
However, whereas Lift is being delivered in nine areas, Communities for Work will expand
similar support to all 52 Clusters. It will dedicate specialist mentors to provide the intensive
support these participants require. The programme is co-sponsored by Job Centre Plus,
who will be supporting both Parent Employment Advisors and Community Employment
Advisors working in Clusters throughout Wales.
In addition, as part of the ESF funded provision, I am developing a proposal for an
“Innovation Fund”, to support and trial new and innovative ideas for tackling poverty,
possibly from organisations not traditionally working in this area.
I am committed to continuing to support the most deprived communities in Wales, building
on the success of programmes already delivering, ensuring we spread the benefits of these
as wide as possible and making best use of EU funds to help tackle poverty. I want Wales
to develop a model of employment support which supports individuals to help secure their
future. This will help to reduce poverty and support people facing challenges in their lives.
Communities for Work represents a significant step forward in employment support in our
poorest communities and a commitment to our continued support for the poorest people, in
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our most deprived communities in Wales, offering a real opportunity to help people achieve
their aspirations and escape from poverty.
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