York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority has been chosen to
trial ways of getting people back into work, as part of a £240
million investment by UK Government.
York and North Yorkshire will receive up to £10 million as a
trailblazer area announced by Government today (26), alongside
the publication of the Get Britain Working White Paper. York and
North Yorkshire is one of eight sites in England and Wales which
will focus on improving the support available to people who are
economically inactive due to ill health and help them return to
work.
, Mayor of York and North
Yorkshire, said: “We have a great opportunity here to help break
down some of the barriers preventing people in our communities
getting back into work due to ill health.
“We have been asked by Government to bring together and maximise
existing support and test new approaches as we develop this
trailblazer offer further.
“Healthy and thriving communities are at the centre of my vision
for York and North Yorkshire. We're incredibly excited and
passionate to bring this trailblazer to York and North Yorkshire
and help people get healthy and get back to work.
“We will ensure it delivers for our region, connecting people to
opportunities, as well as benefitting the national fact-finding
work led by Government.”
According to the Government, a quarter of all people aged 16-64
have a long-term health condition that limits their day-to-day
activities with disabled people nearly three times more likely
(than non-disabled people) to be economically inactive.
The White Paper sets out how the Government will invest £125
million in eight areas across England and Wales, to mobilise
local work, health and skills support – so everyone who wants to
work can get the joined-up support they need.
These eight trailblazers will be at the forefront of designing
how locally joined-up support will work in practice across
England and Wales.
Outside of the ill health-focussed sites, there will also be
eight youth trailblazer areas set up across the country. Funding
will identify those most at risk of falling out of education or
employment and match them to opportunities for education,
training or work.
ENDS
The Get Britain Working White Paper will be available
here from approximately 12.30pm, Tuesday 26
November:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/get-britain-working-white-paper
