A programme that has delivered life changing support to help thousands of long-term unemployed people as they try to find work, has secured £3.4m funding to enable its work to continue until December 2022.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority approved £1.4m from its Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) before Christmas and a further £1.995m in European Social Fund (ESF) funding from the Department for Work and Pensions has now been approved.
Households into Work was launched in 2018 by Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, Steve Rotheram, as a pilot project to support long-term unemployed people who have difficulty finding and sustaining employment.
The programme has a team of 25 based in each of the six Liverpool City Region local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral respectively.
They work on an outreach basis with long-term unemployed people who are dealing with a range of issues, including financial crises, mental health problems, the risk of eviction or homelessness, domestic abuse, social isolation or chronic health issues.
Other members of the household are also encouraged to join the programme so that the issues can be addressed collectively, as well as individually.
Since Households into Work started, more than 2,200 people have been supported, many of whom have either never worked or been long-term unemployed, with more than 250 successfully finding work.
In total, 20% of those on the programme have never worked before, while nearly 40% have been unemployed for more than three years.
Over the course of 12 months, participants work on a one-to-one basis with a dedicated employment advocate who helps them to prepare for and find employment.
Commenting, Mr Rotheram said: “I’ve always said that the big advantage of devolution is that it allows us to do things differently and Households into Work is a perfect example of that.
“We treat people as human beings, offering them the guidance, support and coaching they need to find a job and stay in it. It couldn’t be more different from the sanctions first approach we see from national government.
“And that compassionate approach is really bearing fruit. With every single person we’re able to help through Households into Work, we’re not only helping to change their lives, but the lives of so many others around them too.
“I am so proud of everyone who has taken part in the programme and really delighted that we’re putting the funding in place to help it continue.”
Liverpool City Region’s Portfolio Holder for Education, Employment and Skills and Acting Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Wendy Simon added: “Each of the local authority areas in the city region works in partnership with Households into Work to deliver the programme which is making such a difference to so many people’s lives.
“I’m delighted they will now be able to continue their good work and I look forward to seeing more people overcome their own issues to move into work or closer to being ready to work.”
