Minister
for social exclusion Jeff Rooker
has announced plans to tackle persisting pockets of unemployment across the
country.
Improved
housing choice, more flexibility for Jobcentre Plus staff and better support
for business start-ups were among new cross-Government measures.
The
action was outlined in a new study by the Social Exclusion Unit – part of the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Rooker said: “Living in an area where
there are many other workless people can damage a person’s life chances,
especially those of children and young people.”
Proposals
include:
–
the promotion of low-cost
home ownership through job centres, to give people a stake in their communities
and to act as a work incentive
–
more help for people wanting
to move off of benefits and become self-employed
–
guidance for social landlords
on how to create mixed communities
–
greater use of outreach
services and community-based advisers to help people facing the most complex
problems
–
adapting business support services to help those with unregistered businesses
to ‘go legit’
