£3.3 million Shropshire fund to tackle poverty through work

The programme will see people in deprived areas who are struggling to find jobs receive one-to-one help and support to gain confidence and learn new skills.

Led by training and employment organisation Landau Limited, the project will be delivered in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin by more than 20 partner providers and is designed to help people overcome a range of challenges in their lives and communities.

Landau's Together project is part of the Building Better Opportunities programme funded by the European Social Fund and the Big Lottery Fund, which has worked with The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership to identify local need and priorities.

LEP director Gill Hamer said: "One of the LEP's priorities is to get people into jobs and out of poverty.

"This project will provide much-needed support to hundreds of people across Shropshire who want to improve their chances of getting and keeping a job. By helping put them on the path to employment, we are in turn, thanks to this funding, building thriving communities."

Sandie Dent, the Together project manager, said: "The project will focus on those who are furthest from the labour market. Finding them jobs will be one measure of success, alongside helping participants to progress onto other training, education or volunteering opportunities.

"We will support people through the transition to work or learning, help them gain skills, including digital and financial skills, and provide ongoing support while they find their feet in new jobs."

The Together project will help people facing barriers to employment because they lack qualifications, live in an isolated rural area, have caring or childcare responsibilities, or have problems with ill health or disability, or face other problems such as discrimination due to their race or age group.

It will provide pre-employment support for people aged 19 and over who are not in work and focus on encouraging participants to get involved in training, education or volunteering opportunities and to eventually be able to progress towards and into employment.

Landau will work with 20 partner organisations to help deliver the project and collectively will employ 84 staff, providing 16 new jobs and securing 40 posts at potential risk. The project will provide access to a wide and diverse range of volunteering opportunities enabling more unemployed people move into further education or training having acquired basic skills, increased confidence and motivation.

Among areas covered by the project are Market Drayton, Ludlow, Gatacre and Castle in Oswestry, Harlescott, Meole, Monkmoor, Castlefields and Ditherington in Shrewsbury and Woodside, Brookside, Donnington and Wellington in Telford.