Multi-million pound fund to tackle unemployment in two Yorkshire cities
Leeds City Council and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council are to use a £9.8m funding pot to tackle unemployment in both cities.
The councils have been awarded a £4.9m grant from the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF), which will be match funded by each authority.
Leeds will receive a share of the funding to deliver the £2.8m Skills Training Employment Pathways (STEP) project. It will provide a range of assistance and training to around 1,500 of the city’s residents to help them move into and retain work. This follows a joint bid which was submitted to the ESIF last year by Leeds City Council and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council.
‘STEP’, will start in Leeds next month and will target help to those aged over 25 who have been out of work for 12 months or more. Specialist support will be available to those with health barriers and to meet the specific needs of those over 50.
Bradford will use the funding to continue with its Get Bradford Working initiative.
Cllr Mohammed Rafique, Leeds City Council’s executive member for employment, skills and opportunity said: “A range of work is being undertaken in Leeds and across the city region to provide people of all ages, and especially those who have been out of work for a long period, with the skills, support and confidence to find employment.
“I am delighted therefore that our joint bid to the ESIF with the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council has been successful. This means that over the next three years, through the STEP project, we will be able to further tackle the barriers that are stopping long-term unemployed people aged over 25 securing a job.”
Cllr Imran Khan, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for education, employment and skills, said: “It’s great news for the district that our joint bid with Leeds City Council has been accepted. It means that we can implement the STEP programme to help long-term unemployed people in our district overcome the barriers they face so they find work.
“I want to acknowledge the support of Incommunities, Aspire-Igen, the Department for Work and Pension and Leeds City Council who have supported this bid. The success of this funding means we can continue to build on the success of our innovative Get Bradford Working initiative.”
