You’ve just left school. You’re young, bursting with energy and full of fresh ideas, ready to make your mark in the world. Then along came the recession and ruined it all. Sound familiar?
If like most young jobseekers you’ve been looking for work for ages, but are finding it impossible to get that all-important first break, then here’s some exciting news. Last month saw the beginning of a new government scheme aimed specifically at getting the UK’s unemployed youth into jobs.
As long as you’re under 25, you could be one of the lucky jobseekers to benefit from tens of thousands of new positions being created for young people who’ve been unemployed for 10 months or more through the Future Jobs Fund.
In the last few weeks hundreds of long-term unemployed young people across the country have already taken advantage of the opportunity and started work in a wide range of fields such as recycling, gardening, childcare, sports coaching and transport.
Over the next year around 100,000 young unemployed people’s prayers will be answered as they are helped into new roles that all play a part in improving their local community. The Future Jobs Fund will create opportunities for 18-24 year olds at local councils, charities, voluntary organisations and community projects.
Young jobseekers who are struggling to find work and entitled to the help will be told about Future Jobs Fund opportunities being created in their area by their local Jobcentre Plus personal adviser.
More about the Future Jobs Fund
All jobs created through the Future Jobs Fund must be brand new and demonstrate a benefit to the local community.
They must last for at least six months, be for at least 25 hours per week and be paid at least at the national minimum wage.
Jobs are earmarked for 18-24 year olds approaching one year on benefit or for people who live in areas where the unemployment rate is more than 1.5 percentage points above the national average. Out of the 150,000 jobs being created, at least 100,000 will go to young jobseekers.
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