Norwich For Jobs Aims to Cut Unemployment

Norwich For Jobs Aims to Halve City’s Number of Young Employment Benefits Claimants in Third Stage

A project to get Norwich’s young people into work has stated its aim to reduce the number on employment-related benefits by half by the end of 2018.

Norwich for Jobs, whose steering group is chaired by Norwich North MP Chloe Smith, is in the final stages of planning for its third phase.

Anticipated to run for a year, its headline aim is to halve the number of 18 to 24-year-olds on employment-related benefits in Norwich, which stands at 2,461.

The project team, which includes Jobcentre staff, hopes to cut the number of young jobseeker’s allowance claimants by 100%, income support and universal credit claimants by 50%, and employment support allowance claimants by 25%.

Project leader Tom Adams told a steering group meeting on Friday the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who had sought help through the project – from work experience to mental health support – is 402, with 138 now off benefits and 134 in work.

Mr Adams and colleague Joanna McLeod were recently handed an award by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Central England Group Directors Collaboration Award for making profitable relationships and supporting customers with complex needs.