Press Release
25 February 2010
LOUISE FEELS RIGHT AT HOME WITH NEW JOB
“It’s a lot easier to find a job when you’re in one.” That’s the experience of 24-year-old Louise Akehurst, who has landed a full-time job with housing association, Melin Homes, thanks to the Future Jobs Fund – part of the Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee.
Louise, from Cwmbran, was given a job at Melin Homes as part of the initiative in November, having been out of work for more than a year. And she impressed bosses so much during the first three months that she’s now been taken on as a full-time member of staff.
“The whole process of moving onto the Future Jobs Fund was very quick,” says Louise. “Within a week of my Jobcentre adviser telling me about it, I was working as a housing assistant at Melin, helping officers with rents, issues, paperwork and even visiting residents.”
“I was really nervous about how I’d cope being back in work after 12 months, but I’m loving it. It’s different to what I’ve done in the past, but I enjoy it, and I’m part of a large office, which has really helped build my confidence back up.
“Being made redundant from my previous job after five years was difficult. It was hard going from having full-time wages to living off benefits, and it was boring; having nothing to do.”
“If people can get a job through the Future Jobs Fund, they should go for it. They’ll be working, and have the chance to get training at the same time - I’m doing some customer service training, which leads to a recognised qualification. Plus, of course, you get triple the money of what you get on JSA.”
The £1-billion Future Jobs Fund provides funding for 170,000 jobs across the UK, the majority of which are targeted at tackling youth unemployment. The jobs run for six months, with individuals being paid at least the minimum wage.
DWP Minister for Employment & Welfare Reform, Jim Knight, said:
"Last month we made a guarantee to young people out of work for six months that we will provide them with the offer of a job, training or work experience. More than 4,600 jobs are being created in Wales through the Future Jobs Fund, and Louise is an excellent example of how the work we are doing now, to keep young people close to the labour market, is paying off.
“It’s great to see Louise has benefited from all the training and support she’s been given through the Future Jobs Fund, and I wish her all the best in her full-time role with Melin Homes.”
Kellie Beirne, Melin’s Director of Communities and Enterprise Team is delighted with the enthusiasm shown by all our placements. She said: "Melin Homes is now a major employer of young people on the Future Jobs Fund scheme in Torfaen with 12 placements. We have given a commitment to helping local young people and it is paying off in a positive way."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Future Jobs Fund will provide funding for 170,000 jobs across the UK – 120,000 for young people and 50,000 for unemployment hotspots.
Around £1 billion has been allocated to the Future Jobs Fund to create new jobs across the UK.
Bids to the Future Jobs Fund can be submitted at any time.
Bids are assessed against key criteria:
That the jobs will be real jobs – paying at least national minimum wage, for at least 25 hours a week, and lasting six months;
That the jobs will be additional - in other words that they would not have happened without the Future Jobs Fund;
That they are suitable for long-term unemployed young people;
The work undertaken must be of benefit to the local community; and
A significant proportion of the jobs must be deliverable quickly.
Bids will also be assessed for cost, quality and their support for key sectors – including green jobs.
A full list of the successful bids can be found on the DWP website.
Organisations can visit www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund to express interest in bidding for jobs.
Melin Homes is a not for profit landlord providing quality homes and services across Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport, Powys and Torfaen. For further information please visit http://www.melinhomes.co.uk/
For more information or if you would like a further interview with Louise please contact:
Paula Skyrme – Communications Officer Melin Homes, Ty'r Efail, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 0XJ T 01495 745907
E paula.skyrme@melinhomes.co.uk
Paula Skyrme – Communications Officer Melin Homes, Ty'r Efail, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 0XJ T 01495 745907
E paula.skyrme@melinhomes.co.uk
25 February 2010
LOUISE FEELS RIGHT AT HOME WITH NEW JOB
“It’s a lot easier to find a job when you’re in one.” That’s the experience of 24-year-old Louise Akehurst, who has landed a full-time job with housing association, Melin Homes, thanks to the Future Jobs Fund – part of the Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee.
Louise, from Cwmbran, was given a job at Melin Homes as part of the initiative in November, having been out of work for more than a year. And she impressed bosses so much during the first three months that she’s now been taken on as a full-time member of staff.
“The whole process of moving onto the Future Jobs Fund was very quick,” says Louise. “Within a week of my Jobcentre adviser telling me about it, I was working as a housing assistant at Melin, helping officers with rents, issues, paperwork and even visiting residents.”
“I was really nervous about how I’d cope being back in work after 12 months, but I’m loving it. It’s different to what I’ve done in the past, but I enjoy it, and I’m part of a large office, which has really helped build my confidence back up.
“Being made redundant from my previous job after five years was difficult. It was hard going from having full-time wages to living off benefits, and it was boring; having nothing to do.”
“If people can get a job through the Future Jobs Fund, they should go for it. They’ll be working, and have the chance to get training at the same time - I’m doing some customer service training, which leads to a recognised qualification. Plus, of course, you get triple the money of what you get on JSA.”
The £1-billion Future Jobs Fund provides funding for 170,000 jobs across the UK, the majority of which are targeted at tackling youth unemployment. The jobs run for six months, with individuals being paid at least the minimum wage.
DWP Minister for Employment & Welfare Reform, Jim Knight, said:
"Last month we made a guarantee to young people out of work for six months that we will provide them with the offer of a job, training or work experience. More than 4,600 jobs are being created in Wales through the Future Jobs Fund, and Louise is an excellent example of how the work we are doing now, to keep young people close to the labour market, is paying off.
“It’s great to see Louise has benefited from all the training and support she’s been given through the Future Jobs Fund, and I wish her all the best in her full-time role with Melin Homes.”
Kellie Beirne, Melin’s Director of Communities and Enterprise Team is delighted with the enthusiasm shown by all our placements. She said: "Melin Homes is now a major employer of young people on the Future Jobs Fund scheme in Torfaen with 12 placements. We have given a commitment to helping local young people and it is paying off in a positive way."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
The Future Jobs Fund will provide funding for 170,000 jobs across the UK – 120,000 for young people and 50,000 for unemployment hotspots.
Around £1 billion has been allocated to the Future Jobs Fund to create new jobs across the UK.
Bids to the Future Jobs Fund can be submitted at any time.
Bids are assessed against key criteria:
That the jobs will be real jobs – paying at least national minimum wage, for at least 25 hours a week, and lasting six months;
That the jobs will be additional - in other words that they would not have happened without the Future Jobs Fund;
That they are suitable for long-term unemployed young people;
The work undertaken must be of benefit to the local community; and
A significant proportion of the jobs must be deliverable quickly.
Bids will also be assessed for cost, quality and their support for key sectors – including green jobs.
A full list of the successful bids can be found on the DWP website.
Organisations can visit www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund to express interest in bidding for jobs.
Melin Homes is a not for profit landlord providing quality homes and services across Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport, Powys and Torfaen. For further information please visit http://www.melinhomes.co.uk/
For more information or if you would like a further interview with Louise please contact:
Paula Skyrme – Communications Officer Melin Homes, Ty'r Efail, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 0XJ T 01495 745907
E paula.skyrme@melinhomes.co.uk
Paula Skyrme – Communications Officer Melin Homes, Ty'r Efail, Lower Mill Field, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 0XJ T 01495 745907
E paula.skyrme@melinhomes.co.uk
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