Charities play role in getting people into work

A survey by the Institute of Public Policy Research North says the total is equivalent to a fifth of all people who stopped claiming job seekers’ allowance in the region last year.

In its report, it highlights a number of ways charities and social enterprises contributed to development in North Yorkshire including helping an estimated 1,200-2,600 volunteers to enter employment; supporting training by aiding 4,700 people get a formal qualification over the past two years; and backing 76 new charity and social enterprise start-ups and the expansion of 420 other organisations.

Its research estimates the voluntary sector employs seven per cent of North Yorkshire’s workforce. This is more than the energy and water sector and is comparable to the agriculture and fishing, transport and communications and construction industries.

The research also estimates 139,000 volunteers are working in voluntary organisations. If their time was charged at the national minimum wage, this would be worth £116m a year.

The report argues the voluntary sector needs to do more to measure and demonstrate its economic impact in areas such as skills and employment if it is to be involved in decision-making by the new Local Enterprise Partnership in North Yorkshire.

Ed Cox, director of IPPR North, said: “The local voluntary sector in York and North Yorkshire has real economic clout by helping numerous people into employment and training as well as employing an estimated seven per cent of North Yorkshire’s workforce itself.

“But the sector needs to do more to think in economic terms and how they might help the Local Enterprise Partnership meet its objectives. On the LEPs side, board members need to recognise this contribution to the local economy and include the sector in economic planning and decision-making.”