WIREDGOV

A £6 million EU-funded project to help increase the employment prospects of long-term unemployed people in East Wales has been announced by Minister for Finance and Government Business, Jane Hutt.

The Active Inclusion Fund, backed by £3 million of EU funds will be managed by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).  The project will invest in specialist organisations to deliver skills programmes that improve the employability of 3,400 long-term unemployed people aged over 25 over the next three years.

Flintshire, Wrexham, Powys, Monmouthshire, Newport, Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan will benefit from the funding.

The project will support people who have become long-term unemployed due to factors including work-limiting health conditions, lack of basic skills and work experience, and welfare dependency.

The EU funding will also support 400 six-month work-based placements across the region, providing transitional job opportunities that will lead to sustainable employment.

By 2018, the project is expected to help almost 1,000 people into employment, generate over 1,300 new work-based qualifications and support over 700 people into ongoing training and education.

The funding for East Wales follows the announcement in the Spring of a £16m EU backed investment for the Active Inclusion Fund for West Wales and the Valleys – meaning the project will now benefit long term unemployed people aged over 25 across the country.

In total, the Active Inclusion Fund will help over 10,000 long-term unemployed people aged over 25 across Wales over the next three years.

Welsh Government Finance Minister, Jane Hutt, said:

“During the next five years, over £800 million of EU funds will be invested to create opportunities for people across Wales to learn new skills, return to work, progress their careers and achieve higher earnings.

“This EU investment will support people most in need and at risk of poverty in East Wales by providing specialist programmes that will help them overcome difficult circumstances, improve their employability and return to work.”

WCVA Chief Executive, Ruth Marks, said:

“We have a strong track record in supporting people through tailored employment and training programmes. This additional EU funding will allow us to work inclusively and in partnership to create new opportunities across East Wales.”