Young people in Swansea are set to get a massive jobs boost as part of a £8.5m plan to help get them into work.
Swansea Council and the Department for Work and Pensions have joined forces to create more than 1,320 jobs for long-term unemployed young people that will help local communites as well.
Around 450 jobs could be created between January and May next year with hundreds more to follow in a programme that’s part of the Wales-wide New Future Jobs Fund.
A report on the project is to go to Swansea Council’s Cabinet later this week and, if it’s approved, recruitment could start this month.
Swansea Council Leader Chris Holley said: “This is a new and innovative scheme which not only aims to secure decent jobs for young people and the long-term unemployed but will also help support the communities of Swansea. They’ll have the chance to experience the world of work and that’ll better help them prepare for the future.”
The programme as a whole will last 18 months and young people and the long-term unemployed will be employed by the Council for between six months and a year in that period.
Also it’ll mean an increase in the workforce able to support community safety projects and Communities First environmental projects and to bolster the work of the Youth Service and voluntary organisations.
Mike Day, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said: “In these tough economic times the jobs on offer will give young people the chance to earn a wage, develop new skills and prepare themselves for when the recession ends.”
The New Future Jobs Fund is worth £1bn across the UK. Local authorities and other organisations were offered the chance to bid for a slice of the fund worth £6,500 for each participant.
Swansea’s bid was for £8.58m which will create 1,320 jobs if there is a 100% take-up.
