Southampton MPs and councillors back Future Jobs Fund call

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Southampton MPs and councillors back Future Jobs Fund call

By Southampton Labour ⋅ May 6, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
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Labour MPs and councillors are calling on Southampton City Council and local organisations to work together to ensure that Southampton gets its fair share of a new £1 billion fund for young people at risk of long term unemployment.

Councillor Richard Williams, leader of the Southampton Labour Group of Councillors, has submitted a question to Southampton’s ruling Cabinet calling for the Council to take advantage of the billion pound fund to create new jobs and opportunities for young people in the city. Southampton’s Labour MPs are backing the call.

Councillor Williams said:

“This is an essential opportunity for Southampton to take advantage of new employment and we all hope that the Conservative Administration will seize the chance with both hands.”

Alan Whitehead MP said:

“The Labour Government has put up the money, now it is up to us to come up with the ideas as to how we can give real jobs in the community to young people who are out of work. I want to hear people’s ideas for what needs doing locally but I want the Council to get at the front of the queue.”

John Denham MP said:

“In the last recession young people were left on the scrapheap. I am determined that this should not happen this time and that every young person who would otherwise be long term unemployed gets a job or training. We need to work together to make sure we use this opportunity to help young people get jobs but also to make sure those jobs help the community.

“David Cameron has criticised Labour for putting this money in but I hope his opposition will not stop the Tory council from creating jobs for young people.”

Labour’s Budget for Jobs announced a new £1bn Future Jobs Fund which aims to create 150,000 jobs for people at risk of long-term unemployment.

The Future Jobs Fund is part of more than £3bn investment in extra skills and training for jobseekers, which has enabled to Government to be able to guarantee work or training to every 18 to 24 year old who is in danger of becoming long term unemployed.

The government aims to have that guarantee in place by January but are looking to develop jobs fund places as quickly as possible.

The Fund, though only announced last week, is open for business and already sports organisations have pledged to create 5,000 jobs for young people.

James Purnell, Labour’s Work and Pensions secretary, said:

“John Denham, Alan Whitehead and other Labour MPs have campaigned hard against unemployment and the Future Jobs Fund is the result. I want Southampton to get its fair share of this money and more importantly to make sure that young people are not abandoned to life on benefits like in the last recession.

“I want to see local councils, third sector groups and others coming forward with ideas on how to create jobs for young people. Work can give young people pride and purpose and local people know the useful jobs they could be doing in the local area.”

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