employment and the vcs

The Government has set a target of 80% employment to be achieved by:

reducing the number of people claiming Incapacity Benefit by 1 million;

helping 300,000 lone parents into work and;

increasing by 1 million the number of older workers.

In December 2006, David Freud was asked to contribute to a long term review of the Government’s Welfare to Work strategy and to deliver recommendations on how the Government's aspiration of 80% employment might be acheived.

His independent report was submitted to the Department for Work and Pensions in March 2007. Freud states that "the Government’s aspiration to achieve an employment rate of 80% is extremely challenging. Its achievement would establish the UK as a world leader in employment. It would also produce many other substantial benefits in helping to deliver other social goals, including, most importantly, that of reducing child poverty." Freud believes that to achieve the aim will require strong partnerships across the private, public, and voluntary and community sectors.
The Freud Report

At a time when the employment and skills agendas are moving closer together it’s important to highlight the crucial role played by the voluntary and community sector (VCS) in these agendas. Freud states that UK welfare resources should be directed towards helping and encouraging the least advantaged into work. The VCS currently delivers innovative training programmes, which prepare people from disadvantaged communities for work.

The Regional Forum is working with a range of key regional and national partners to promote the learning and skills work delivered by the VCS.