15 March 2005 - Minister praises European help for Londoners
Work and Pensions Minister Chris Pond added his voice to praise for London projects funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) today.
Speaking at an event held in the Natural History Museum, the Minister reminded the audience that ESF money is being used to help some of the capital’s most deprived communities.
Since 2002, more than 63,000 central Londoners have benefited from ESF projects, which help people to learn new skills and move into employment.
The event was hosted by the London Central Learning and Skills Council, which runs ESF programmes and will shortly begin over 150 new projects using some of the £448 million ESF money allocated to London.
The money will be used to target help at those who face barriers to work, such as people on incapacity benefits, black and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities and lone parents.
Chris Pond said: “ESF projects help people from some of the capital’s most deprived communities to achieve their potential by providing new employment and skills opportunities.
“This extra help ensures that disadvantaged groups, such as lone parents and people on incapacity benefits, are able to join the record numbers of people in work today and be part of our drive for an 80% employment rate in the UK.”
Notes for editors
- ESF provides £4.9 billion in the UK (£4.6 billion in Great Britain; £3.7 billion in England) in 2000-06 to support projects to help unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their employability and skills.
- ESF contributes to DWP's objective of promoting work as the best form of welfare for people of working age.
- ESF supports the Government’s system of active labour market policies that – together with steady economic growth – has contributed to helping 2 million more people into work since 1997
- Jobcentre Plus, local Learning and Skills Councils and other agencies combine ESF with domestic funds to expand and enhance employment and skills provision in England.
- The mid-term evaluation of the 2000-06 ESF programme in England found that it was performing well and achieving its targets. As a result, the European Commission has awarded an extra £111 million of ESF funding to England.
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