150 top british employers backing young britain 85,000 opportunities pledged for young people

Over 150 top British employers have thrown their weight behind Backing Young Britain, a national campaign to create new opportunities for thousands of young people during the recession.

Government and employers are pledging an extra 85,000 opportunities for young people today. These range from Morrisons pledging new training for every one of its 36,000 employees under the age of 25, to Government providing help to get 45,000 young people into jobs in retail, tourism, leisure and hospitality.

There are also 5,000 new opportunities, including apprenticeships from companies including Centrica, Carillion and Royal Mail. Other employers backing the campaign, and pledging support include Microsoft, Bovis Lendlease, Pfizer and Phones4U.

The Prime Minister, Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper and top employers signed up to Backing Young Britain, met 250 young people at a Youth Summit at Birmingham City Football Club today.

Gordon Brown said:

"I am delighted that 150 employers recognise the value of Backing Young Britain and have joined the campaign. Together we can create thousands of opportunities for young people and ensure that the next generation gets its foot on the career ladder.

"This Government will do everything we can to help people who are suffering because of the global economic downturn. We know that people of all ages are being hit by the recession, but it is young people who can be most at risk and that's where Backing Young Britain can really make a difference."

Young people also took part in a panel debate with the Prime Minister and Yvette Cooper, hosted by BBC TV’s Anita Rani. Other members of the panel included Martina Milburn from the Prince’s Trust, Sam Laidlaw from Centrica, Imran Hakim of iTeddy and Jill Youds from Virgin Media.

In July, the Government announced the first 47,000 jobs from the £1bn Future Jobs Fund, which will create 100,000 new jobs targeted at young people.

The Government also announced 45,000 new training and support opportunities to help young people move into sectors that need new talent and have jobs to fill including hospitality, leisure, tourism and retail. In the last three months, over 70,000 vacancies were notified to Jobcentre Plus in retail alone, and the Government is working with industry to make sure young people get the chance to take up more of these jobs.

If young people are job ready, they will be helped into a job, with a financial incentive to employers who take them on. If they are not, they will get the training they need and then be helped to find work.

Yvette Cooper said:

“We will not lose a generation of young people to work because of the global recession. We already have over 150 of Britain’s top employers signing up to Backing Young Britain to create opportunities for young people. It is crucial for all of us that we make sure we do everything we can to harness the skills and talent of young people now so that we can all benefit in the future. We are acting now so that unemployment does not scar families, communities and the economy for generations.”

The Government also said that over 230,000 unemployed people have been helped into jobs through Local Employment Partnerships; with more than 25,000 employers signed up to work with Jobcentre Plus to help unemployed people back to work.

LEPs help employers to recruit more people, such as the long-term unemployed, for whom the jobs market can be particularly tough, and can involve such measures as guaranteed interviews, special recruitment processes, pre-employment training and work trials.

Young people will also get the help they need sooner: 18-24 year olds will be able to take up a new job from the Future Jobs Fund earlier – after claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for ten months rather than a year, from April 2010.

Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson said:
"Today's package of support for young people is a win-win situation for everyone. The benefits will be felt by the person who gets a foot on the employment ladder, the business gets a new addition to the team, and the country as a whole.

“Work experience, offering internships to graduates and investing in skills and training are vital to equipping young people and businesses with the tools to come out of the downturn in a strong position."

To find out more about how to join the Backing Young Britain Campaign visit www.hmg.gov.uk/backingyoungbritain

Workers Memorial Day consultation begins

The government today launched a consultation into officially recognising Workers Memorial Day to remember those who lose their lives at work.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper confirmed the consultation would look at how the day could be officially recognised in the UK. The Government wants to give bereaved families, unions who represent workers, and the public, the opportunity to have their say about how they would like to mark the day and commemorate those who have died. She said:

“It is a tragedy that some people go out to work and then never return home to their families. I want to look at what the UK can do to remember the thousands of workers who have lost their lives.

“I know there are many ideas for consideration, including a lasting memorial. Many countries already recognise Workers Memorial Day, to commemorate those who have been killed, seriously injured or made ill through work.”

Despite the UK having one of the best health and safety records in the world, there were still 180 workplace fatalities in Britain in 2008/09. Many more die as a result of diseases incurred when they are working. Every year, for example, there are around 4,000 cancer deaths due to past exposure to asbestos, and every working day, over 400 people are seriously injured at work. Accidents and ill health are estimated to cost society £20bn a year.

Following its inception in Canada in 1984, Workers Memorial Day is already recognised as a national day in many countries around the world including Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Luxembourg, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan and the USA.

Since the early 1990s, the day has become the focal point for an increasing number of commemorative events involving the bereaved, trade unionists, the TUC, Government bodies and Local Authorities among others.

The consultation is published today and runs until 19 October 2009. For further information please follow the link: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/

Cooper: trailblazers at the heart of initiative to support disabled people

Trailblazing local authorities are being invited to help shape the way services are delivered to disabled people, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper told local authorities today

Yvette Cooper encouraged local authorities to work with Jobcentre Plus offices and develop proposals to become Right to Control trailblazers.

Right to Control is a shake-up of the way disabled people can use the funding they receive from the state and is part of the Government’s radical welfare reforms. The trailblazers will test how this could work in practice.

Yvette Cooper said:

“Local authorities have an exciting opportunity to shape the way services supporting disabled people are delivered in the future. This will put the wishes of the individual at the heart of the system. I am, today, urging local authorities to work with local agencies and Government to develop innovative approaches through trailblazers.”

Jonathan Shaw said:

“We understand that disabled people are the experts in their own lives. The Right to Control will give them power to choose the support they need and trailblazer sites will play a vital role in shaping this scheme.”

The Right to Control, which is a major part of the Government’s goal to achieve equality for disabled people by 2025, gives disabled people the power to decide who delivers their services and how they receive them.

Individuals and organisations can take part in the Right to Control consultation by visiting www.odi.gov.uk/right-to-control or calling 020 7449 5093

LABOUR WELFARE RED TAPE HINDERS PIONEERING BANK PLAN

The UK Government is being urged to make changes to benefits rules which would allow a radical form of banking pioneered in Bangladesh to be brought to Scotland to help people out of poverty.

Proposals by Nobel Peace Prize-winning economist Professor Muhammad Yunus to offer small business loans to people without collateral are in doubt because the Department of Work and Pensions has been unable to say what would happen to claimants' welfare payments if they took out a loan. Under current legislation, if someone takes out a business loan, they forfeit their benefits.

SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson John Mason MP has written to Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper over fears that the benefits system could stop the Grameen Bank coming to Glasgow . A documentary, Scotland 's Brand New Bank, is to be screened on BBC One tonight (Tuesday) at 2235 BST.

Mr Mason, the MP for Glasgow East, said:

“The Grameen Bank is a revolutionary idea which has lifted millions out of poverty around the world but hit the buffers here because of UK Government bureaucracy.

“If this bank can work in Bangladesh , there is absolutely no good reason why it cannot work here too.

“Under current rules, if someone takes out a business loan, they would forfeit their benefits, and that would clearly discourage many people from starting up their own business.

“This is a plain example of how the benefits system can trap people in the cycle of poverty.

“There is no reason why these rules cannot be changed, and the Department for Work and Pensions must be made to remove these barriers.”

COOPER: JOBS ARE THE TOP PRIORITY

Helping people back into work as quickly as possible is vital, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said today.

New figures out from the UK Statistics Authority show that, although there has been another rise in overall unemployment, the number of new claims being made for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) has fallen for the second month in a row, and the numbers leaving JSA each month continue to rise.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper said:

“Today’s figures show the importance of providing extra help for people and families coping with unemployment. Families across Britain are continuing to feel the consequences of the global recession. Unemployment has increased in Britain and across the world, although it is lower here than in the US and the Euro-zone.

“It is vital we do everything we can both to help people into work right now, and to prevent long term unemployment scarring families and communities for the future. That is why we are investing £5bn extra into helping jobseekers – creating jobs for young people and those in the hardest hit communities, delivering training and skills, and providing 16,000 extra frontline staff in Jobcentres across the country.

“The figures show the number of new claimants has fallen for the last two months, but many people are still facing significant difficulties and we are determined to provide more help.

“We will not turn our backs on people who need help. Nor will we stand by while people slip into the kind of long term unemployment or worklessness that scarred families in past recessions.”

Since November 2008 the Government has invested £5bn in helping jobseekers. This includes the £1bn Future Jobs Fund which will help create 150,000 new jobs for young people and those in the most deprived areas.

The investment also includes extra help for all customers at day one and six months of their claim, as well as more support for Jobcentre Plus, including a trial to extend the opening hours so staff can dedicate more time and help to those who need it most. This is on top of the extra 16,000 Jobcentre Plus staff being employed to help offices deal with increased numbers of jobseekers.

New figures released today also show little change in the number of people claiming inactive benefits in contrast to previous recessions.

(HMRC) Baby bonus for mothers-to-be

Mothers-to-be can now claim a tax-free cash bonus of £190.

The new Health in Pregnancy Grant (HiPG) is a one-off payment intended to help pregnant mothers stay fit and healthy in the run up to the birth, and help meet some of the costs as the big day approaches.

Yvette Cooper, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said:
"Every month around 65,000 women in the UK celebrate the birth of a new child. And with the introduction of the baby grant mums-to-be can now get extra help at such an important time in their family life.

"Every mum knows that the run up to birth can be an expensive and sometimes stressful time.

"The grant will help mums-to-be support their good health during the pregnancy, as well as help give their child the best possible start in life. It's the mums' choice what they do with the cash as everyone's circumstances are different."

Janet Fyle, Professional Policy Advisor at the Royal College of Midwives, said:

"This is a commendable initiative from the Government, and one that demonstrates that we value and want to support mothers-to-be. Midwives have a crucial role to play in assisting and enabling all women to access the grant. They are often a woman's first, and in some cases, only contact with the health service.

"Midwives will be there to give objective advice and information to women about the grant, because they know an investment in women is an investment towards a healthier woman and a healthier baby."

The money can be claimed from the 25th week of pregnancy, after receiving health advice from a midwife or other health professional. Expectant mums will be given a claim form to sign and send off, which they must do within 31 days. When the claim is approved, the money is paid directly into a bank or building society account.

Pregnant women can get more information at http://www.direct.gov.uk/money4mum2be or by downloading a free podcast at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/podcasts