Jobs to be created to tackle long-term unemployment

JOBS are to be created across the Scarborough district to provide work for young people stuck in long-term unemployment.

The next phase of a groundbreaking 1.5m scheme aims to sign up new recruits to 80 jobs over the next six months as part of a drive to help thousands of unemployed workers in some of the nation’s most deprived communities.

The majority of the positions will be targeted at 18- to 24-year-olds in the Scarborough area. who have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least six months.

However, a quarter of the jobs will be aimed at adults of any age who are long-term unemployed, and a recruitment event will be held on Thursday in Scarborough.

Scarborough Borough Council’s economic development manager, David Kelly, said: “The aim of the programme is to help local people furthest from the labour market into sustainable employment.

“The jobs created will help people to gain the skills, confidence and experience necessary to get a permanent job.”

In November, the Yorkshire Post revealed ambitious plans to cut unemployment rates in Scarborough after research said the town has some of the worst deprivation blackspots in the country.

Official figures have shown that as many as 10,000 people in Scarborough are on Jobseeker’s Allowance or other key benefits, and nearly a third have not worked for more than three years.

The six-month job placements will be paid at the minimum wage and will include work for at least 25 hours each week. Job opportunities will be available in childcare, catering, administration, gardening, landscaping, driving and other community work.

The recruitment event will be at the Scarborough Jobmatch centre at Pavilion House, Westborough, Scarborough, on Thursday between 10am and 2pm. More information is available from the Scarborough Jobmatch scheme on 01723 373009.

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