Welfare Reform on the Web (February 2003): Social Security - UK - New Deal

FROM HARLEM TO HARLESDEN: GETTING JOBS AND CHANGING LIVES

D Finn and K Zahno

Working Brief, issue 140, Dec 2002/Jan 2003 p.14-19

In 1999 Local Employment Access Projects (LEAP), a black led employment project in North West London, introduced a radical new approach to getting jobless people back into work. It was based on the "Strive" programme used in New York City, which combined a short job preparation course with an employment placement and retention service. Evaluation confirmed that LEAP had been successful in meeting its objectives.

LONG TERM UNEMPLOYMENT AND THE "EMPLOYABILITY GAP": PRIORITIES FOR RENEWING BRITAIN'S NEW DEAL

C Lindsay

Journal of European Industrial Training, vol. 26, 2002, p.411-419

Article presents an overview of the 2001 re-engineering of the New Deal for older unemployed people (New Deal 25 Plus). Based on interviews with 115 job seekers in an urban area characterised by low unemployment, it argues that these clients face multiple barriers to work, including a lack of "real world" work experience. Concludes that there needs to be a stronger commitment to training in a "real world" environment and a more flexible approach to the administration of some social security benefits to help these job seekers into permanent employment.

PATHWAYS TO WORK: HELPING PEOPLE INTO EMPLOYMENT

Department for Work and Pensions

London: TSO, 2002 (Cm 5690)

Sets out a comprehensive package of new measures to help people with an illness or disability off benefits and back into work. Proposals include:

• early support from skilled personal advisers;
• access to a range of specialist programmes, including rehabilitation services provided jointly by Jobcentre Plus and the NHS;
• greater financial incentives to work, including a Return to Work Credit of £40.00 a week for 52 weeks for those finding a job that pays less than £15,000 a year;
• more support for people with health problems who move from an incapacity benefit to Job Seekers' Allowance.

PRE-BUDGET DETAILS FURTHER SOCIAL INCLUSION MEASURES

P Bivand

Working Brief, issue 140, Dec 2002/Jan 2003, p.10-13

Summarises vocational training and welfare to work initiatives announced in the Chancellor's pre-budget statement in November 2002.