Croydon chosen to pilot job scheme aimed at cutting 'something for nothing culture'
JOBLESS young adults will soon be forced to do three months' full-time work or have their benefits cut under a scheme being piloted in Croydon to tackle its "something for nothing culture".
Mayor of London Boris Johnson and employment minister Chris Grayling have announced the plan, at a time when more than one in four of those unemployed in Croydon is a young adult.
-
Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell
The Conservative pair this week detailed how 18 to 24-year-olds who have spent less than six months in employment since leaving education will have to work for their £56-a-week Jobseekers' Allowance.
They will do work experience placements in care homes, charities or social organisations for 30 hours a week over 13 weeks. They will also have to prove they have spent 10 hours a week looking for a job in return for the benefit.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
Croydon's Labour politicians have hit out after the announcement, branding the plan "insulting" for young people.
But Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell called the move "positive", saying it is vital for tackling the borough's "something for nothing" culture.
Mr Barwell said: "If you're out of work the worst thing to do in terms of future employment is sitting at home doing nothing. People who do voluntary work look much more impressive to employers."""
Mr Barwell said the scheme, which will be tested this year in 16 London boroughs, is just one element of a new approach to getting young people back into work.
A new work programme will mean job centres begin helping young adults to look for work as soon as they sign on. More apprenticeships will also be created.
There are currently 2,760 jobless 18 to 24-year-olds in Croydon. Although youth unemployment has dropped by 4.2 per cent since February this year, it is still 9.6 per cent higher compared to this time last year.
Tony Newman, Labour leader of the opposition at Croydon Council, said: "What I find insulting about this is the idea that young people are just sitting around doing nothing. Many are actively looking for jobs."
Mr Johnson said: "I would much rather people had the experience of work placements and the confidence that comes with it than being on benefits [and] seeing their self-esteem fall away."
Across the age spectrum, there are currently 10,653 jobless in Croydon, 6,425 of which are men and the remaining 4,228 women.
Comments
by madforit37
Saturday, November 10 2012, 12:42PM
“This is going back to the dark ages 30hrs a week for £56 that works out to be £1.56 an hour, thats slave labour. since my son left school two years ago he has been on cources and he has worked in a charity shop near his home and put all this on his cv. He has been to all the major and small shops in croydon and handed in his cv to all of them with no reply from any of them. If you read the story on this site about the cv,s been handed in to shops in croydon for the Christmas period some of them have had 600+ handed in for a couple of placements that are on offer, Its about time the goverment woke up and rearlised they made the mess we are in today...”
by tbabygib
Tuesday, September 11 2012, 10:39PM
“What will the Unemployment Records be now the Oylpomics/paralimaics are over? All those people willing to work for the games, are they willing to work now?”
by nicecityboy
Monday, September 10 2012, 9:47AM
“I am shocked at how many people claim not to have the skills to work after leaving school.
Surely by 16 years old (minimum school leaving age) people are able to read and write and socially aware enough to talk to people properly, otherwise the education system is failing.
There are still jobs around, we should feel lucky we live on the doorstep of the best city in the world, London. This means we are inherently better off in our area than the majority of the rest of the country.”
by The1AndOnly
Sunday, September 09 2012, 3:08PM
“too true lol”
by Carol2345
Sunday, September 09 2012, 2:18AM
“One good reason why you should never rely on a bloke eh? lol”
by Trixter99
Sunday, September 09 2012, 1:36AM
“Is it cynical to think the main reason this is actually happening is the government hopes that country wide enough young adults will default on the scheme to save them millions in benefits, year after year?
Obviously it would be sold between bigwigs as money saving and crime reducing.
This scheme will definitely help out few people get on the employment ladder, but I would like to know where all the jobs are going to come from. Or how many older staff will be made redundant once a company realise that they can employ the younger apprentice for much less.
Help for the older generation would be good too, even if you think they are less likely to riot!
What we don't want to see is the youngsters deciding that they would be better off selling drugs than working 9-5 for £56 a week and that in turn leading to even more shootings and gang related crime.”
by The1AndOnly
Sunday, September 09 2012, 12:56AM
“not all 36 year olds have experience n qualifications tho. some choose to stay at home and raise their kids while hubby goes to work. then 10 - 15 years down the line the marriage ends and your forced to sign on, as you cant get a job due to lack of experience and or qualifications”
by Carol2345
Saturday, September 08 2012, 11:50PM
“That is because some younger people do not have any job experience like most older ones over 24 do. By the time you get to say 36 or older you have already got job experience of some sort. :) and have built up enough info on the CV.”
by The1AndOnly
Saturday, September 08 2012, 11:31PM
“i being the age of 36 think its disgusting that this scheme will only be offered to 18-24 year olds. i would give anything to placed on the scheme so i can gain experience towards a better job.
everyone that sponges off the government should be made to earn it not just the younger ones,
maybe our country wouldnt be in such a mess then”
by Len__
Saturday, September 08 2012, 5:50AM
“This is only for young people haven't contributed at least 6 months NI contributions.”