Tackling Poverty and Unemployment In The Highlands

1st February 2011

The Highland Council has agreed a fresh approach to tackling poverty and unemployment in the Highlands. Organisations are being invited to develop innovative approaches to assisting people with barriers to employment into training, work experience and jobs.

A twin track approach will target geographic areas in Highland with particularly high levels of unemployment as well as supporting work with young people, people with mental health issues and people with learning disabilities.

A recent report to the Council Planning, Environment and Development Committee acknowledged that the challenges facing areas of deprivation and people who are unemployed over a long period of time require sustained approaches to assist them back to work.

It is intended that funds will be available to assist particular disadvantaged communities to develop and implement activities that improve the quality of life and regenerate their communities. Priority will be given to projects that directly deliver employability outcomes for individuals who live within the targeted area who are furthest removed from the labour market. The closing date for applying to the Deprived Area Fund is Friday 18 February 2011.

The communities able to tap into the funds of £416,000 are Inverness Merkinch North; Inverness South Kessock; Inverness Merkinch East; Inverness Merkinch South; Inverness Central and Longman and Inverness Hilton West; Wick South ; Wick South Head; Wick Pulteneytown South' and Wick Hillhead North; Alness Teaninich; Alness Kirkside'; Alness Firhill; Invergordon (Part of Strath Avenue); Seaboard; and Fort William Plantation.

A second fund, the Strategic Employment Projects Fund, is intended to assist people with barriers to engage in positive learning and supported work activity that improves their longer term work prospects. Priority will be given to proposals that focus on young people (under 25 years); people with a learning disability or recovering from mental health issues. The deadline for applications is Friday 18 March 2011.

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of the Committee, said: "Despite the pressure on Council resources we are determined to do as much as we can to build on the work that the Council and its partners are doing to alleviate poverty and unemployment." While the Council's budget for 2011-12 Financial Year is yet to be finalised the Committee has approved new criteria and a process for applying for the funds to ensure that there is continuity and an early start next financial year, subject to budget availability.

Stuart Black, Director of Planning and Development, said: "Over the past year we have reviewed and revised how we tackle poverty and community regeneration and now look forward to supporting refreshed and expanded activity in the coming year to ensure that people are better able to benefit from the opportunities that are available."

Details of the funds and application processes are available at -
www.highland.gov.uk/employmentservicesgrants