Written evidence submitted
by Barnardo's
1. EXECUTIVE
SUMMARY
1.1 Barnardo's is working with the Department
for Work and Pensions (DWP) to create over 700 employment opportunities
for 18 to 24 year olds through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF). Barnardo's
has been awarded four grants as Lead Accountable Body (LAB) and
holds several subcontracts with Local Authorities where they are
LABs for FJF. We are working in partnership with charities, social
enterprises and corporate partners to create real jobs for six
months, supporting young people to achieve sustained employment.
1.2 In preparing this response we have consulted
over 100 employers that we are working with through the eight
partners in our London FJF project in which we both manage the
supply chain and undertake direct delivery. We have also consulted
young people we have supported through FJF.
1.3 Large national employment initiatives for
young people, delivered by the voluntary sector can create meaningful
programmes that help to kick start the careers of young people
Most of the young people we work with come from disadvantaged
backgrounds and have left school or college lacking the qualifications,
skills and confidence that they need impress employers. Barnardo's
and the third sector has shown that it has the capacity and expertise
to deliver these initiatives on a large scale, working successfully
with young people from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds
in particular. We would welcome another opportunity to help many
more young people to make a successful transition to work, giving
them hope and real opportunities to aspire to something more than
a life on benefits.
1.4 We have found that incentivising employers
to take on young people and give them a chance to see what they
can achieve and contribute has been extremely positive. Barnardo's
recommends that a national programme to encourage employers to
recruit young people, supported by specialist providers, should
be continued and expanded to include apprenticeships.
1.5 Barnardo's was disappointed that it was not
given the opportunity to extend its FJF agreements with the DWP
for another year. By ending the programme without a clear, structured
replacement in place, there is a danger that the momentum, relationships
and the goodwill of partners created through this programme will
be lost during a period of rising need due to rapidly increasing
youth unemployment.
1.6 Longer term contracts or funding agreements
offer better value to Government, providers, employers and young
people. Performance and efficiencies improve over time, and time
allows providers to fine tune delivery and encourages suppliers
to invest and build further links with employers to source vacancies.
1.7 The FJF scheme could have been rolled over
into an Apprenticeship programme to include accredited training
and aligned to Skills Funding Agency priorities, to coordinate
employment and skills provision for young people. Barnardo's would
like the DWP to consider options for Prime Contracting for the
16-24 age group in the new the Work Programme to ensure that expert
suppliers can support young people, who remain the hardest hit
by the recession.
1.8 Presently, it is unclear whether Apprenticeships
will be included within the Work Programme or through separate
funding streams. One of the strengths of the Future Jobs Fund
is that not all young people consider themselves or are suitable
for an apprenticeship, some just want a job they enjoy and they
can progress in, something the FJF has provided them with.
1.9 Barnardo's supports the Government's plans
to expand apprenticeship placements for young people. Barnardo's
recommends:
- (a) Pre-Apprenticeship programmes - in the
workplace, supported by charitable training providers like Barnardo's
for young people who are apprenticeship-ready, but represent more
of a risk to employers due to disadvantaged and chaotic backgrounds.
- (b) Incentives should be given to employers
for giving young people an opportunity to work and learn.
- (c) Access DWP programmes for unemployed
people should be widened to include the 16 and 17 year olds, who
have already left school or college because they want to work
and learn in the workplace, but who often kept waiting to access
these programmes.
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 Barnardo's has extensive experience of helping
unemployed young people to gain qualifications and find work.
We have been helping young people work towards sustainable employment
since the late 1800s, when Dr Thomas Barnardo opened training
centres to give young people the skills they would need to enter
trades,
2.2 Today, working in partnership with local
employers, schools, colleges, and other charities, we train and
support over 2,500 young people every year. We work across the
UK in a range of sectors including construction-related trades,
catering, vehicle maintenance, business administration, horticulture,
retail, and warehousing.
2.3 Barnardo's provides a wide range of services
to support young people through the transition back to education,
training or into work, where necessary offering intensive support
to meet the needs of young people. Key to their success is a strongly
personalised approach, working flexibly with each young person
and "sticking with them", even when difficulties occur.
2.4 Barnardo's is working with the Department
for Work and Pensions (DWP) to create over 700 employment opportunities
for 18 to 24 year olds through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF). Barnardo's
has been awarded four grants as Lead Accountable Body (LAB) and
holds several subcontracts with Local Authorities where they are
LABs for FJF. We are working in partnership with charities, social
enterprises and corporate partners to create real jobs for six
months, supporting young people to achieve sustained employment.
2.5 In preparing this response we have consulted
over 100 employers that we are working with through the 8 partners
in our London FJF project in which we both manage the supply chain
and undertake direct delivery. We have also consulted young people
we have supported through FJF.
3. THE EXTENT
TO WHICH
THE FJF HAS
SUCCEEDED IN
MATCHING NEW
WORK EXPERIENCE
OPPORTUNITIES TO
YOUNG UNEMPLOYED
PEOPLE
3.1 In Barnardo's experience the FJF has been
very successful in matching new work experience opportunities
to unemployed young people. This has been achieved through effective
recruitment processes such as job fairs, meet the employer events,
straight forward and easy to understand job adverts and job descriptions.
In London, our partners have worked with employers collaboratively
and successfully, creating a huge variety of jobs in sectors including
film production, finance, catering, hospitality and services for
children and young people. This has offered considerable choice
for candidates, meaning that they are more likely to find a match
for their skills and interests.
3.2 The Future Jobs Fund has developed the employability,
skills, confidence, and career aspirations of young people whilst
providing a tangible benefit to the community. The community benefit
aspect of the FJF has enhanced the reputation of the voluntary
and community sector as a rewarding career pathway for young people.
Case Study - Barnardo's Retail
To date we have created 145 jobs in Retail, and will
create a further 155 opportunities by April 2011. Many young people
are moving into permanent positions both within Barnardo's and
externally and some are applying for Management positions. All
young people are working towards Retail qualifications to help
further their career and provide the essential platform for economic
independence.
Our FJF Retail Programme has proven to be very popular
with Job Centre Plus staff as there are limited Retail opportunities
for young people on benefits. This is because many Retail opportunities
in the private sector operate "zero hour" contracts,
where employees do not have set shift patterns, so a steady income
is not guaranteed. By contrast, our jobs guarantee a minimum of
25 hours per week. Consequently, unemployed young people who are
interested in Retail are able to gain new work experience with
employment prospects whilst earning a wage.
Jobs with Prospects—Barnardo's
has used its existing relationships with corporate partners including
Royal Mail and Orange to source permanent vacancies for its FJF
employees.
3.3 Key Recommendations—Large national
employment initiatives for young people, delivered by the voluntary
sector can create meaningful programmes that help to kick start
the careers of young people Most of the young people we work with
come from disadvantaged backgrounds and have left school or college
lacking the qualifications, skills and confidence that they need
impress employers. Barnardo's and the third sector has shown that
it has the capacity and expertise to deliver these initiatives
on a large scale, working successfully with young people from
vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds in particular. We would
welcome another opportunity to help many more young people to
make a successful transition to work, giving them hope and real
opportunities to aspire to something more than a life on benefits.
4. STRENGTHS
AND WEAKNESSES
OF THE
FJF PROGRAMME FROM
THE PERSPECTIVE
OF PROVIDERS
(INCLUDING IN
THE THIRD
SECTOR), EMPLOYERS
AND YOUNG
UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE,
AND PARTICULARLY
IN RELATION
TO THE
LONG-TERM
SUSTAINABILITY OF
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
4.1 Barnardo's is involved in delivery of the
Future Jobs Fund at many levels; we are an employer, a provider,
a Lead Accountable Body through which we manage supply chains
and we are a sub-contractor in several areas of Scotland, Wales
and England. Having consulted a range of partners and stakeholders
and young people, the response to FJF has been very positive.
Its strengths lie in the engagement of employers, who have seen
the value young people can add to their organisation, the quality
of jobs created for young people, and the experience and progress
they have made.
EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVE
4.2 The Future Jobs Fund has enabled Barnardo's
to create an entry platform for young people to gain work experience
and paid employment in social care roles, including Play Workers
and Community Support Workers. These jobs were created specifically
to be filled by young people, who would not have been considered
for standard vacancies as they didn't meet the threshold criteria
to apply for our usual positions. After six months, the training
and experience gained by the young people has put them in a position
to apply for standard positions within Barnardo's and other social
care organisations. The employers we have worked with externally
had their expectations surpassed by the quality and motivation
of the young people taking part in FJF.
YOUNG PERSONS
PERSPECTIVE
4.3 During a Barnardo's consultation event held
in London for young people in a wide variety of FJF roles. The
common views of young people were very positive:
- Increased confidence and understanding of the
world of work and feeling like achieving something "real"
through paid employment.
- Increased ambitions for their career and future
employment.
- Training and development opportunities have enabled
young people to develop essential and specialist skills that make
them more competitive in the job market.
- Increased understanding of available jobs and
opportunities/possible career paths.
- Sense of purpose and responsibility because being
relied on in a role.
Case Study - Young Person's Perspective
"I've been working at Barnardo's North West
Regional Office in Liverpool for just over a month now. I really
like my job - especially working on reception where I get to meet
and greet people. It feels great to be a part of a team and everyone
I work with has been so nice and welcoming.
Getting this job through Future Jobs Fund has really
meant a lot. Being out of work for so long really knocked my confidence,
but since working at Barnardo's my confidence has really come
back and I feel better about myself" - Louise Lockley
- Admin Assistant for Barnardo's North West.
PROVIDER PERSPECTIVE
4.4 Referrals onto FJF are reliant on the knowledge,
ability and attitude of the JobCentre Plus Advisers.
4.5 Our partnership work allows us to work alongside
other charities and social enterprises to share best practice
and to create positive experiences for young people.
PARTNER PERSPECTIVE
4.6 Our experience as a partner has been mixed;
some LABs allow £5,700 per employee, another £6,485
and the rest somewhere in between.
The FJF experience has been so far incredibly positive,
has helped creating new jobs, placed young people in "meaningful"
(for their aspirations) jobs, increased their skills level and
improved their chances to stay in employment. From Rathbone's
point of view, it is disappointing that the FJF will end in March
2011, as it has so far been the most successful youth unemployment
programme we worked on. - Alessia Rinaldi - Policy and
Development Officer - Rathbone.
4.7 Key Recommendations—We have
found that incentivising employers to take on young people and
give them a chance to see what they can achieve and contribute
has been extremely positive. Barnardo's recommends that a national
programme to encourage employers to recruit young people, supported
by specialist providers, should be continued and expanded to include
apprenticeships.
5. THE LIKELY
IMPACT OF
THE DECISION
TO END
THE FJF IN
MARCH 2011 rather than March 2012
5.1 Barnardo's was disappointed that it was not
given the opportunity to extend its FJF agreements with the DWP
for another year. By ending the programme without a clear, structured
replacement in place, there is a danger that the momentum, relationships
and the goodwill of partners created through this programme will
be lost during a period of rising need due to rapidly increasing
youth unemployment.
5.2 The initial impact of the decision to end
Future Jobs Fund in March 2011 has already been reflected in the
work of JobCentre Plus, where attitudes and priorities have changed.
For example, in Blackpool, a fulltime FJF coordinator's priorities
had changed and their workload, meaning that they now spend less
than a third of their time on FJF. This has impacted negatively
on the ability of providers and employers to fill vacancies, and
in some cases, increased the period of unemployment for young
people.
5.3 Barnardo's concern is that there will be
a gap in provision for young people, at a time when the youth
labour market, particularly at the unskilled/low skilled end,
is rapidly receding. The Future Jobs Fund comes to an end on March
2011, with the roll out of the Work Programme due to commence
in June 2011. There is a danger that young people will be left
drifting as the FJF falls away as it gets nearer to its end date
whilst the Work Programme is not fully up to speed until some
time after June 2011. Experience from previous recessions demonstrates
the long-term scarring effect of unemployment at this age[31].
5.4 Key Recommendations—Longer term contracts
or funding agreements offer better value to Government, providers,
employers and young people. Performance and efficiencies improve
over time, and time allows providers to fine tune delivery and
encourages suppliers to invest and build further links with employers
to source vacancies.
5.5 The FJF scheme could have been rolled over
into an Apprenticeship programme to include accredited training
and aligned to Skills Funding Agency priorities, to coordinate
employment and skills provision for young people.
6. HOW THE
TRANSITION FROM
FJF TO THE
WORK PROGRAMME
WILL BE
MANAGED, INCLUDING
THE PART
TO BE
PLAYED BY
THE GOVERNMENT'S
PROPOSAL TO
FUND NEW
APPRENTICESHIPS.
6.1 The Work Programme will bring together client
groups from very different backgrounds, with complex and varied
needs and issues, such as long term IB claimants who may be moving
on to ESA or JSA, lone parents, ex offenders and young people.
Britain is currently at risk of creating a "lost generation"
of young people falling into long-term unemployment because of
the recession unless action is taken now.[32]
In our view unemployed young people are the longest term risk
and targeted specialist interventions now can realise the greatest
savings for the public services and spending over their lifetime.
6.2 Due to the gaps in funding between the end
of the Future Jobs Fund in March 2011, and the roll out of the
Work Programme in June 2011, in effect, there won't be a transition.
Young people will cease to be referred to FJF and will move onto
mainstream welfare to work provision, such as the old New Deal
provision.
6.3 Key Recommendations: Barnardo's would like
the DWP to consider options for Prime Contracting for the 16-24
age group in the new the Work Programme to ensure that expert
suppliers can support young people, who remain the hardest hit
by the recession.
6.4 Presently, it is unclear whether Apprenticeships
will be included within the Work Programme or through separate
funding streams. One of the strengths of the Future Jobs Fund
is that not all young people consider themselves or are suitable
for an apprenticeship, some just want a job they enjoy and they
can progress in, something the FJF has provided them with.
6.5 Barnardo's supports the Government's plans
to expand apprenticeship placements for young people. Barnardo's
recommends:
- (d) Pre-Apprenticeship programmes - in the
workplace, supported by charitable training providers like Barnardo's
for young people who are apprenticeship-ready, but represent more
of a risk to employers due to disadvantaged and chaotic backgrounds.
- (e) Incentives should be given to employers
for giving young people an opportunity to work and learn.
- (f) Access DWP programmes for unemployed
people should be widened to include the 16 and 17 year olds, who
have already left school or college because they want to work
and learn in the workplace, but who often kept waiting to access
these programmes.
10 September 2010
31 Gregg, P and Tominey, E
(2004) The Wage Scar from Youth Unemployment, CMPO Working
Paper Series No. 04/097. Back
32
From Recession to Recovery II - A Focus on Unemployment LGA
2009. Back
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