£1 million Inactivity Trailblazer to help York people back into work
Plans for Inactivity Trailblazer funding include helping the unemployed gain skills through archaeology and construction programmes, workplace health checks and help to move young people into work or further education.
Cllr Pete Kilbane, York Council's Labour deputy leader and economy spokesperson, said it was a bold step to unlocking hidden talent and ensuring no-one is left behind.
But disability rights activist Flick Williams has claimed attempts to remove barriers to work facing those in ill health would not address employers' unwillingness to take them on.
It comes as proposals for the £1 million project are set to go before councillors for a decision on Tuesday, August 5.
Cllr Pete Kilbane, Labour deputy leader and economy executive member on York Council. Picture is from York Council
The funding is part of the £10 million given to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority by the Government to trial efforts to tackle long-term joblessness.
The announcement that the region was among eight selected to host Inactivity Trailblazer programmes came as part of wider Government plans to reform the welfare system unveiled in November.
They included plans to cut disability benefits which originally aimed to save £5 billion by 2030 but provoked a backlash, leading to them being watered down.
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Employment Minister Alison McGovern told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in March the Trailblazer and wider reforms aimed to stop people out of work being left on the scrapheap.
Official figures show that in York and North Yorkshire, economic inactivity due to long-term sickness rose by 72.2 per cent between 2019 and last year.
Government figures show around one in eight young people nationally are not in work, education or training.
A York Council report on plans to spend its £1,038,250 share of regional Trailblazer funding stated the situation locally was generally better than national picture.
Almost one in five working age people in York, 19.8 per cent, are economically inactive compared to the English average of 21.1 per cent according to council figures.
Locally, 5,900 people aged between 16 and 64 are out of work due to health issues but 77.3 per cent of those with physical or long-term conditions are in work.
That compares to 65.3 per cent nationally.
Plans to spend the Trailblazer funding in York include spending £120,000 to recruit two new Opportunities Brokers who would help people address barriers hindering them getting into work.
Supported Pathways helping people into work or with wellbeing through the local Archaeology on Prescription programme and construction skills training is set for £175,000.
Tailored support for young carers would receive £18,750, with help getting 16 to 25 year olds with social, emotional or mental health needs into working, learning and training getting £37,500.
A programme encouraging early retirees or those considering leaving work before they reach pension age into vacant jobs in the council, further education and other areas would get £62,500.
Improving access to jobs for veterans would be backed by £18,750, with Mental Health hubs and talking therapy to support people with severe issues would get £250,000.
Efforts to draw together best practice from businesses to create a package of support for employment and recruitment would receive £100,000.
A total of 15 schemes specific to York are set to be supported by the one-off funding which runs until the end of March.
Council Deputy Leader Cllr Pete Kilbane said it aligned with the authority's ambition to create jobs and grow the local economy.
Council Public Health Director Peter Roderick said it was an opportunity to make a difference to lives of those facing barriers to employment due to their health or personal circumstances.
Mr Roderick said: 'We're proud to be delivering a programme that puts people first—offering tailored support, improving wellbeing, and helping individuals find meaningful work.'
But activist Ms Williams said it the reason many disabled people and carers were out of work was because it was harder for them to get and keep a job.
Speaking previously about the proposals, she said: 'If you had spoken to disabled people you may have learned about barriers to work such as inaccessible, unreliable, irregular transport, lack of accessible housing, barriers to obtaining mobility aids, social care support and timely healthcare.
'Where are all the employers willing to employ us, ready to make reasonable adjustments, offer the flexibility to employees to manage our impairment issues, health appointments or caring responsibilities?'
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