Gazette News
£1m to help get Cumbrian young back earning or learning
2:34pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012
DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg has announced £1m funding to help unemployed young people in Cumbria to get back earning or learning again.
Using a payment-by-results system, the Government will target funding and tailored support at 16 and 17-year-olds who have no A* - C GCSEs.
Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said: “The Youth Contract is a great way to help those that have been struggling since leaving school get earning or learning. Helping young people to stay in the South Lakes when they leave school has always been a priority for me.
"Too many feel that they have to leave to find a job. I will continue to fight for more apprenticeships, more well paid jobs and more affordable housing to help young people in our area.”
Cumbria County Council will receive £1,003,962 as part of the Youth Contract, which aims to lift all young people out of unemployment.
Key features include: - Cash payments to encourage employers to recruit young people.
- An extra 250,000 work experience places over the next three years.
- At least 20,000 extra incentive payments worth £1,500 each for employers to take on young people as apprentices.
- Extra support through Jobcentre Plus in the form of weekly, rather than fortnightly, signing-on meetings, more time to talk to an adviser and a National Careers Service interview