The innovative work of the Rhyl City Strategy is starting to make a real difference to the local community, Secretary of State for Wales Paul Murphy said today 6 November during a visit to the town with First Minister Rhodri Morgan.

During their visit Mr Murphy and Mr Morgan visited Llandrillo College to meet learners on the ‘Entering Retail’ course before going on to meet the Rhyl Youth Action Group.

Following the visit Mr Murphy said: “The aim of the Rhyl City Strategy is to pull together local partners and agencies to find solutions to reduce worklessness in the town. What we’ve seen today at Llandrillo College is one initiative which is making that happen.

“Through their six week pre-employment training courses they are helping to prepare people for work in the retail sector. Some of these people may not have worked for some time, but by helping them build their confidence and motivation they can give them the encouragement they need to take the first steps back into employment.”

Mr Murphy and Mr Morgan also saw how the work of the Rhyl Youth Action Group was helping young people in the town. Mr Murphy added; “Many young people who, for various reasons, have found themselves leaving education with little or no qualifications often find it difficult to enter employment. The Rhyl Youth Action Group is helping these young people to get the right skills to enter employment.

“Through their youthbank programme and the range of activities and training programmes they have young people can find the right course to suit their needs. Sometimes all they need is a bit of encouragement to find the right path for them.”

Mr Morgan added: ” These initiatives are engaging young people on the fringes of the labour market and provide the support and motivation to help them gain the skills needed to find work.

“Even during an economic downturn, there are still opportunities for people to find employment opportunites. That only makes it more important to help people overcome the barriers of getting into to work. More than that, these programmes are an essential component of the wider comprehensive regeneration of Rhyl. The Rhyl City Strategy is investing in people and laying a strong foundation on which we can build and develop.”

Notes

The City Strategy was announced in the 2006 Welfare Reform Green Paper in response to the challenge of low employment in cities. It focuses initially on areas that are furthest from the Government’s aim of 80 per cent employment. The aim is to test whether local stakeholders can deliver more by combining and aligning their efforts and funding behind shared priorities, alongside more freedom to innovate and tailor services in response to local needs.

There are two Welsh Pathfinders in the Department for Work and Pensions Cities Strategy programme. These are Rhyl and the Heads of the Valleys.

More information on the DWP Cities Strategy Programme can be found here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/cities_strategy.asp

More information on the Rhyl City Strategy can be found here: http://www.rhylcitystrategy.co.uk/