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North East invited to bid for budget jobs scheme

Local councils, sports organisations and charities across the North East are being encouraged to bid for funding to create new jobs for young unemployed people.

Department for Work and Pensions ministers are calling on organisations to submit innovative bids for posts that will help improve the local community, such as sports coaching, crime prevention, tourism and working with children.

The move comes as part of the £1bn ‘Future Jobs Fund’ announced in last week’s Budget.

National sports organisations have already pledged to bid for at least 5,000 posts, including as sports coaches, swimming instructors, fitness instructors and other active leisure roles.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell said: “Today national sports organisations across the country have pledged to bid for at least 5,000 jobs for young people from the Future Jobs Fund. We are confident this will be the first of many bids from public and third sector organisations for the £1bn fund that provides six month, salaried jobs.

“I am calling on sports bodies, local councils, third sector groups and others to bid for funding for new jobs and help us make sure that we do not waste the talents of a generation of Britain’s young people.

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Andy Burnham said: “There is nothing better than sport to inspire young people to believe in themselves and help give them a sense of hope for the future. This exciting new scheme will enable young people to transfer the skills they can learn form sport into the work place, while helping to deliver more sport in schools and the community to help fulfil our Olympic ambitions.”

Those wishing to bid for jobs should go to www.dwp.gov.uk/campaigns/futurejobsfund.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .