2.5M to Help Joblessyouth in the Leicestershire

EMBARGOED: 00:01hrs Wednesday 22 January 2014

£2.5M TO HELP JOBLESSYOUTH
IN THE LEICESTERSHIRE

The New Year is looking a lot brighter for young jobseekers in Leicester and Leicestershire as the Big Lottery Fund today (Wednesday) announces the area is to receive almost £2.5m from Talent Match, its £108m youth unemployment initiative.

The news comes as the latest job figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are released today. Recent figures showed that 4,585 young people living in the East Midlands had been claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance for more than 12 months[1].

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of good causes money from the National Lottery, has launched Talent Match, a scheme designed by young people for young people:with the aim of helping those aged 18-24 who are struggling the most to find career opportunities. Now the Fund has awardedThe Princes Trust £2,484,710 to helpyoung people living in areas of Leicester and Leicestershirewho have been unemployed or out of education for at least 12 months.

The areas, were chosen due to the higher proportion of resident unemployed young people.In Leicester the areas include Beaumont Leys, New Parks, Braunstone and Rowley Fields and Spinney Hill wards and in Leicestershire, the North West ward of Greenhill in Leicestershire.

Talent Match projects are led by a cross-sector partnership with a key focus on employers, particularly from the private sector, to ensure that it meets local needs and young people are given opportunities get the skills to find employment.The Prince’s Trust will now work in partnership with local organisations and young people to devise the best ways to support unemployed young people.

Partner organisations for Leicestershire were decided upon by local young people and include: DHL Logistics Ltd, Highfields Community Association, JobCentre Plus, Leicester & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, Leicester & Leicestershire County Council, Leicester College, Leicester College of Further Education, Leicester Community Music Project, Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, Leicestershire County Council, Menphys Ltd, North West Leicestershire District Council, Pedestrian Ltd, Prescient Power, Ltd, Seed Creativity Ltd, Somali Development Services, UR Choice Young People’s Project, Whitwick Community Enterprises (Community Connections) and Wotbox Participation.

The ACEVO Commission on Youth Unemployment has estimated that the issue will cost £28billion over the next decade.

Nat Sloane, England Chair of the Big Lottery Fund, said ‘Youth unemployment is an issue that threatens the hopes of an entire generation as well as our whole economic wellbeing. Talent Match promises to help the very hardest to reach young people to make the most of their skills and ambitions, not just as an end goal, but by giving them a say in how the programme itself is designed and put into practice.

‘The funding announced today is a key step on a very exciting journey as it means the real work can now begin. By bringing together employers and the knowledge of key charities, Talent Match will help ensure today’s young people have the maximum help and support they need to find a fulfilling and rewarding career.’

Blake Pain, the county council's Cabinet member for economic development, said: "It's great news that the Greenhill area of Coalville has been successful in securing Big Lottery funding for the exciting Talent Match initiative.

"Talent Match is something I've followed with great interest since attending the inaugural meeting in 2012 and I'm sure many young people will benefit from the opportunities which the programme offers and that can only be good for the future economy of the county."

John O’Reilly, Director at The Prince’s Trust in Central England, added: “Talent Match will support long-term unemployed young people in Leicestershireby matching them with a dedicated mentor who will help boost their confidence and skills, and support them back into the workplace. The Prince’s Trust and all its partner organisations would like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to The Big Lottery Fund for this incredibly generous investment in young people. Last year, three in four young people on Prince’s Trust programmes moved into work, education or training. We look forward to helping many more as a direct result of this funding.”

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Notes to Editors

The Big Lottery Fund, the largest distributor of National Lottery good cause funding, is responsible for giving out 40% of the money raised for good causes by the National Lottery.
The Fund is committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK. Since its inception in 2004 BIG has awarded close to £6bn.
The Fund was formally established by Parliament on 1 December 2006.
In the year ending 31 March 2013, 28% of total National Lottery revenue was returned to the Good Causes
Since the National Lottery began in 1994, over £30 billion has now been raised and more than 400,000 grants awarded across arts, sport, heritage, charities, health, education and the environment.

Partner organisations across Leicestershire include

DHL Logistics Ltd

Highfields Community Association

JobCentre Plus

Leicester & Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Leicester & Leicestershire County Council

Leicester College

Leicester College of Further Education

Leicester Community Music Project

Leicester Education Business Company (in partnership with b-inspire and Leicester Connexions Trading Ltd)

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce

Leicestershire County Council

Menphys Ltd

North West Leicestershire District Council

Pedestrian Ltd

Prescient Power Ltd

Seed Creativity Ltd

Somali Development Services

UR Choice Young People’s Project

Whitwick Community Enterprises (Community Connections)

Wotbox Participation.

Ends//

Issued: 21/01/2014

PN 14-01-22

[1] Figures are from Office for National Statistics, Claimant Count – Age and Duration, November 2013