Member Article

Employment advice for parents at the school gate

The school run could be a new way to get employment advice, after Middlesbrough and Newcastle announced they would open Job centres at school gates.

The cities will be among 25 areas that will share a £10m pot from the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) to target parents and stop them becoming the “hidden unemployed.”

The support is aimed at parents who might have lost work because if the credit crunch, as many people do not use Jobcentre services, like advice and free training, because their partner is in work.

The trial schemes, targeting the 25 most deprived local authorities, will provide employment support at local schools, bring work trials and childcare support into the community, and help parents who want to become self employed.

Over 100,000 children could be lifted out of child poverty

Speaking at the second reading of the Child Poverty Bill, the secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, said: “Every child should get a fair start in life, every child should have the chance to get on, to develop their potential, to chase their dreams.”

She added: “Over a hundred thousand children could be lifted out of poverty if more second parents were able to work as their children get older. That is why it is so important to provide the help and support for parents who lose their jobs.”

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