£1.1m boost for jobless

01 December 2009

WEST HAM MP Lyn Brown has welcomed an extra £1.1m funding to help Newham's long-term unemployed gain new skills and get back to work.

The cash from the Government's Working Neighbourhoods Fund is part of a £40m package to be shared among 61 councils in unemplpyment blackspots.

The aim is to help ensure that no-one is left behind during the recession.

Newham's extra £1.1m is on top of £39million the borough received from the Fund, which has already handed out £1.5bn since 2008 and helped more than 70,000 families nationwide.

Labour say they have reduced the number of long-term jobless families by 13 per cent over the last ten years. The Party maintain that the extra funding demonstrates their commitment to getting the remaining 73,000 families back to work.

Ms Brown said: "I hope that this extra £1.1m will help those in our community who need it most. It will help the long-term unemployed in Newham to gain the right skills and opportunities and get back into work.''

She added: "In past recessions, too many people were left behind and this Government are determined that this won't happen again. The Fund gives resources directly to Newham Council, enabling them to take immediate action to help our community."

The councils chosen represent the most deprived areas and those with the highest non-employment.