Published: October 28th, 2019
A service to help unemployed people with a disability find work has launched a new programme after winning a special contract.
Enable Supported Employment Services says the new service – launched at the start of October – will support local jobseekers into lasting employment.
The programme was designed by the Department for Work and Pensions for The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership to support unemployed people in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire.
Enable has been successful in securing a sub-contract to Reed in Partnership for the European Social Fund (ESF) contract worth £2.7m.
It will run for three years, with the first two years taking referrals and the final year providing support into paid employment. Enable will be dealing with over 100 referrals a month as part of this programme.
Participants (16 and over with no upper age limit) must be either unemployed or inactive and must fall into one or more of the following categories:
- Long-term unemployed (26 weeks +)
- Basic Skills need (below Level 1)
- At least one barrier to work, such as
- Lone parent Worker aged 50 +
- Ex-offender
- Carer
- Disability/health condition
- Mental health needs
- Learning disability
- Substance misuse
- Ethnic minority
- Low/no qualifications
- Language barrier (English not first language)
Jobs are expected to be over 16 hours a week, with a high percentage of job seekers remaining in their new jobs for over 6 months.
Enable will be working with a wide range of Shropshire Council teams and services and also with partners in health, probation, and voluntary organisations to provide a referral pathway.
For all referral enquiries, contact Enable on 01743 255109.