APPENDIX 26
Memorandum from the DETR: Environment
Task Force (JG 35D)
ETF WITHIN THE
NEW DEAL
FOR YOUNG
PEOPLE (NYDP) AGED
18 TO 24
NYDP is designed to help young unemployed people
aged 18 to 24 who have been unemployed and claiming Jobseekers
allowance (JSA) for six months to obtain sustainable work.
On entry to New Deal clients enter an initial
"Gateway" period of up to four months. During this time
the client will be assigned a New Deal Personal Adviser who will
provide a wide range of help and advice to help them back into
work. They may refer the client to a range of specialist help
and advice designed to tackle literacy and numeracy, drug and
alcohol dependency, etc. If it is not possible during this period
to find suitable unsubsidised work, consideration is then given
to referring the client to one of the New Deal options.
The Environment Task Force (ETF) is one of the
four options available following a "Gateway" period.
The remaining three options are, a subsidised job under Employment
Option, improving vocational qualifications through Full Time
Education and Training or quality work experience with the Voluntary
Sector.
ETF is intended to enhance young people's long-term
employment prospects through a combination of high quality work
experience and training leading to an approved qualification or
units towards an NVQ. They undertake work with either team based
projects or in individual placements aimed at delivering sustainable
environmental benefits in line with the Departments policies and
objectives. As well as undertaking vocational training participants
also receive structured help with job search during their time
on the option.
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ETF PROJECTS
AND PLACEMENTS
The development and management of ETF projects
and placements is undertaken by a network of main contractors
operating in one or more of the Employment Service (ES), units
of delivery. In many cases the day-to-day management of the projects
and placements is carried out through a network of sub-contractors
and local providers. This latter category includes small local
environmental organisations.
ETF providers are encouraged to develop innovative
projects and placements which produce outputs consistent with
the wider environmental objectives and policies. In particular
emphasis has been placed on those that:
— contribute to improving the quality
and management of the local environment;
— contribute to conserving energy and
water;
— offer continued opportunities for
young people to be involved with local communities; and
— contribute to greening our urban
and urban fringe areas.
DETR has worked closely with DfEE and the Employment
Service to actively encourage the development of a diverse range
of opportunities which reflect the needs of the local labour markets,
the characteristics and preferences of the client group, and the
objectives of the organisation providing the opportunities. DETR
is currently working with ES in developing an ETF partner provider
network to encourage the wider sharing of innovative ideas and
good practice.
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
FOR CLIENT
PARTICIPATION
Each participant may spend up to 26 weeks on
the ETF option. During this time they will receive a wage, paid
by the host provider, or an allowance, paid by ES. The allowance
will consist of payment equivalent to the participants weekly
JSA plus a grant of £400 which will be divided into weekly
or fortnightly payments.
Some providers are able to offer a wage as a
result of the availability of additional funding from outside
New Deal for example European Social Fund or SRB funding. In some
locations this has led to the formation of Intermediate Labour
Markets which are able to offer young people a waged option which
may last more than 26 weeks.
Projects and placements offer the potential
for young people to learn a wide range of skills to improve their
overall employability. These include construction skills, ecological
management, energy conservation and insulation and transferable
skills in IT, administration and management.
ENVIRONMENTAL OUTPUT
AND IMPACT
MONITORING
All ETF projects and placement proposals in
England are scrutinised prior to work commencing to ensure that
they produce environmental outputs and impacts that are consistent
with DETR's objectives and policies. Care is also taken to ensure
that the work being undertaken complements work already being
done or wider strategic initiatives. Examples of how this is being
achieved is where ETF is contributing to Local Agenda 21 initiatives
and where projects/placement form part of wider urban regeneration
programmes.
DETR monitors the environmental impact resulting
from the introduction of ETF by: collecting and assessing detailed
environmental output information from all main contract holders
in England for all the projects and placements they are operating;
carrying out regular half yearly reviews of the outputs being
achieved by each project and placement; a research and evaluation
programme commissioned by DETR to consider the wider impact that
ETF may be having on environmental policies and objectives.
This information will be a valuable data source
for assessing the effectiveness of project and placements in achieving
employment and environmental objectives and to encourage the development
of a wider range of projects and placements.
At the end of September 1999 approximately 11,000
young people were actively involved in ETF projects and placements.
Environment Task Force
November 1999.
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