Jessica O'ConnorMinister for Employment Alison McGovern and Welsh Government Minister Jack Sargeant have launched the first ‘trailblazer; programme in Wales, which aims to provide targeted interventions tailored to local needs, rather than the current ‘one size fits all’ approach.
In addition, the Government has announced an additional £10m in funding for the programme.
The programme includes help with CV writing and job searching, one-to-one mentoring, counselling services, wellbeing provision, and access to condition management services for those with health conditions.
Trailblazer areas are specific places selected to trial out new and innovative approaches to employment support – these areas receive targeted funding and resources to roll out new strategies for reducing unemployment, tackling inactivity and improving job opportunities.
During their visit to Working Denbighshire yesterday, both Ministers witnessed the support available, including meeting work coaches who offer tailored assistance.
Wales is one of nine places receiving support through the UK Government’s £125m economic inactivity trailblazer programme, targeting areas with the highest levels of inactivity.
Local leaders in Denbighshire, Blaenau Gwent, and Neath Port Talbot will design employment support schemes tailored to their community’s unique challenges.
This localised, multi-agency approach aims to help people back into work, which is one of the most important ways to put extra money in people’s pockets and unlock growth as part of the UK Government’s Plan for Change.
McGovern said: “Everyone deserves to thrive, including people suffering from long-term health conditions.
“No one will be written off and left on the scrapheap. That’s why we’re allocating the Welsh Government a £10m boost to shake-up and connect health and employment services, delivering on the Plan for Change.
“Everyone deserves to benefit from the security and dignity that good work affords, and this trailblazer will help people to access this support.”
Sargeant added: “This £10m investment is an instrumental step in our collaborative approach to supporting people across our nation back into good employment.
“By working in partnership with the UK Government, Wales trailblazers will create a tailored approach that meets the unique needs of the three communities it is aiming to help in its first year.
“Our focus is on delivering integrated services that truly connect health support with employment opportunities, recognising that good work is fundamental to wellbeing.
“The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring no one is left behind, and this trailblazer programme demonstrates how devolved employment support can be responsive to local needs while contributing to our wider economic ambitions for Wales.”
Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “This £10m programme to get people into work will deliver tailored support where it is most needed. Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire and Neath Port Talbot have been selected as areas where we can make the most difference.
“It’s an approach that we know works and builds on the success of the Welsh Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee which already provides support for young people to gain skills or get into work.
“Work improves physical and mental health and raises people’s standard of living. The trailblazer scheme ensures that anyone who’s able to work is helped into employment.”
