25 November 2004 - Minister announces extra £111 million of European funding to boost jobs and skills in England
Work and Pensions Minister Chris Pond today announced an extra £111 million of European Social Fund (ESF) money to help the most disadvantaged people in England gain jobs and skills.
Chris Pond marked the news by visiting an innovative project to see ESF at work. The Odyssey Trust in Holloway, London, works with groups such as ex-offenders, drug users, ethnic minorities and the long-term unemployed to break down barriers keeping them from work through expert guidance, support and skills training.
The extra money was awarded following a review that showed a high level of performance by the ESF in England. The money will be targeted at helping people who remain unemployed or inactive despite record levels of employment in the UK.
The Minister met the people running the project and several others who are benefiting from the help provided by the Trust.
Chris Pond said: “Over a third of people joining ESF employment programmes have no qualifications and many have poor basic skills, so this money is going to the people who need it most.
“The Government is committed to employment opportunity for all and is determined that everyone should benefit from the record levels of employment in the UK today.
“ESF funding allows us to improve literacy, numeracy and IT skills amongst those who are at a disadvantage in our world-leading labour market, so their chances of finding a job are vastly improved.”
Notes for editors
- About £2.7 billion of ESF Objective 3 funding is available in England in 2000-06. The funding supports the following priorities:
- helping unemployed people and those having difficulty entering the labour market;
- providing opportunities for people at a disadvantage in the labour market;
- promoting lifelong learning;
- developing the skills of employed people; and
- improving women’s participation in the labour market.
- The European Commission has awarded an extra £111 million as a result of the England Objective 3 programme achieving its interim performance targets. The Government and the European Commission have recently agreed to adjust the programme to target more support on people who are at a disadvantage in the labour market.
- The Odyssey Trust receives ESF money via Jobcentre Plus. Jobcentre Plus uses ESF to expand and enhance provision for its most disadvantaged clients.
- Further information on ESF is available on the ESF website at www.esf.gov.uk
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