The Prime Minister paid a visit to “Work Directions” in London today, a flagship Pathway-to-work venture providing employment support and advice to those on incapacity benefit or income support.
Accompanied by Work & Pensions Secretary of State James Purnell, the PM met staff councillors and members of the public taking part in the centre’s different programmes. The tour included seeing the services on offer such as access to and assistance with IT tools, as well as one-to-one coaching to help people re-enter the jobs market.
After the visit Gordon Brown said:
“We want to get opportunities for people to get jobs. We want to give them all the personal support that is necessary. I think you have seen, going around this centre, that individuals are getting help tailored to their particular needs. Some want part-time work, some want full-time work, some have been out of work for a long time, some need new qualifications and some need just the confidence to get jobs. We want to provide a personal service to everyone. I can assure people, having been here, that there are thousands of vacancies that can be taken up. We are determined to help people.”
Coinciding with the visit was the publication of the “Fair rules for strong communities” strategy, a cross government report produced by Communities and Local Government and the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit, working with other government departments.
Published on the eve of the Queen’s speech the ‘Fair Rules for Strong Communities’ strategy sets out a comprehensive series of reforms covering welfare reform, crime and policing, children and young people, business rules, immigration and communities, which are designed to bring people together and steer the country through the global economic downturn.
More information on Pathways to work available on the Directgov website (opens new browser window)
Publication:”Fair Rules for Strong Communities “(pdf 1.26 MB)
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