Jobless Londoners are getting advice on jobs, training and volunteering linked to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games through innovative roadshows run by London's major housing associations with the London Development Agency.

The "ASK Coach" Roadshows are designed to increase the number  of Londoners getting jobs or volunteering roles linked the 2012 Games.  They are run by the G15 Group of Housing Associations  and have been created to support and recruit London housing association residents who are unemployed or at risk of losing their jobs.

Over 1,500 people have attended the 12 "ASK Coach" Roadshows held since June - with over 100 unemployed people getting personal employment advice from a dedicated "jobs coach".

Further roadshows will be held in Priory Park, Haringey on Saturday 5 September and then in Colindale, Wembley, Stamford Hill and Bromley.

The "ASK Coach" Roadshows have the Olympic Delivery Authority and Jobcentre Plus promoting jobs and apprenticeship opportunities. The Roadshows also promote volunteering opportunities in the current Personal Best programme and at 2012 Games time with the London Ambassadors and Olympic 'Games Makers' programmes.

London Development Agency Olympic Director Geoff Newton said:

"With the eyes of the world on London in the run up to 2012, we want to make sure Londoners share in the benefits brought by new jobs and skills.  ASK Coach uses the expertise of London's housing associations to get job advice and support direct to those who need it most.  Hundreds of their residents have come along and learned about the opportunities in London."

The "ASK Coach" Roadshows are part of the London Employment and Skills Taskforce for 2012 (LEST) programmes to securing employment opportunities and promote the jobs available in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  LEST has already supported almost 20,000 previously workless Londoners into jobs linked to the 2012 Games.

Notes to editors:

ASK Coach Roadshows will be held in September and October 2010 as follows:

ASK Coach Roadshows have been held in Greenwich, Islington, Harrow, Lewisham, Hillingdon, Barking, Brixton, Lambeth, Stepney and Acton.

The London Employment and Skills Taskforce for 2012 is a partnership that includes the London Development Agency and the five host boroughs, the Olympic Delivery Authority, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Jobcentre Plus, the Skills Funding Agency, the Learning and Skills Academy for Sport and Active Leisure, the London Business Network and the Arts Council.

The G15 of Housing Associations comprises AmicusHorizon Group, Catalyst Housing Group, Circle Anglia, East Thames Group, Family Mosaic, Genesis Group, Metropolitan Housing Partnership, Notting Hill Housing, Network Housing Group, Peabody, Southern Housing Group, The Hyde Group, The L&Q Group.

The LEST action plan covers a range of engagement, training, employment support and volunteering initiatives designed to maximise the employment opportunities arising from the Games. Read the full report.