An award-winning scheme which has helped 2,600 North Solihull job seekers back into work is to run for another two and a half years, after securing funding of nearly £500,000.
Transport authority Centro teamed up with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), Solihull MBC and Jobcentre Plus to renew the WorkWise initiative, which provides free journey planning advice and travel passes for unemployed people travelling to interviews or starting new jobs.
The news comes after funding for the scheme ended in April last year and means the project can now continue to operate out of Chelmsley Wood Jobcentre until December 2013.
The latest funding of £458,860 includes £229,430 from the European Regional Development Fund, with the rest of the money coming from Centro. The project is also supported by Jobcentre Plus and Solihull MBC.
Cllr Ted Richards, who represents Solihull Council on Centro said: “We are delighted that we have been able to renew this project in North Solihull. With the difficult economic climate it is great that we are able to work together to give people opportunities like this and help them find their way back into work.”
Workwise was first launched in the area in March 2003 and has already helped 2,600 people back into work. With the new funding the project aims to assist a further 1,267 North Solihull job seekers over the next three years.
Dawn Ralph, Jobcentre manager at Chelmsley Wood Jobcentre Plus, said: “The project helps us to assist unemployed people to access interviews and jobs by overcoming transport barriers to employment.”
The programme will continue to be available for residents of Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge and Kingshurt or Smith Wood wards or those signing on at Chelmsley Wood Jobcentre and forms part of a wider employment initiative led by Solihull Council called Journey to Success. To get free travel for the first three months of their new job applicants must contact the WorkWise team before starting their new employment.
For more information visit www.networkwestmidlands.com/workwise