Unemployment rates in South Holland and across Lincolnshire are falling.
Latest figures show 335 men and 275 women in the district claimed benefit, which is a little more than one per cent of the population. In Lincolnshire, there were 4,260 males and 2,435 females (1.5 per cent).
Meanwhile, jobseekers in the county are benefiting from a new project to access tailored support to help them get back into work.
Greater Lincolnshire MOVE ‘Moving On: Volunteering and Employability’ is a £2.1million three-year project.
Co-ordinator Jennie Eaton said: “MOVE is not just about sending people on courses and then leaving them to it.
“Jobseekers will have ongoing support from an advisor who will be there every step of the way to help them identify what they would like to do, how to do it and how to overcome hurdles that are standing in their way.
“Whether a jobseeker needs support to build their confidence, skills, overcome a health challenge – whatever their own personal obstruction to employment – MOVE advisors have the time, patience and skill to find the help that individual needs to achieve their goal.”
A network of 24 organisations is working together to make help available in the whole of the county – not just in the city and bigger towns.
Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service (LCVS) is helping to deliver the project in South Holland (including Holbeach, Long Sutton, Sutton Bridge and Whaplode).
LCVS chief executive David Fannin said: “The whole ethos of MOVE fits perfectly with what LCVS does at our Volunteer Centres in Louth, Boston and Spalding. We regularly see people who take up volunteering and find the confidence and skills they need to go on to paid work. Volunteering can be life changing, particularly when you have extra support on health and other positive life choices, tailored to your needs, which we will provide in this project.
“We’re delighted to be involved in this exciting new project which will transform lives.”
MOVE is completely free and independent of Job Centre Plus – participation is not mandatory, and jobseekers cannot be sanctioned if they decide it’s not for them.
Financial help is available for travel, childcare and respite care costs, making it even easier for people to take part.
To find out more contact LCVS via www.lincolnshirecvs.org.uk, email [email protected] or call your local office by following the options on 01205 510888.