Century milestone for In2Work
21 August 2008
A borough-wide project aimed at helping people back in to work
and off sickness-related benefits - through health support and
access to counselling - has recently assisted its hundredth person
into employment.
In2Work – run by the council together with JobcentrePlus and
Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust – launched last
year and provides support to with everything from training and
qualifications to confidence.
The programme is open to anyone in receipt of incapacity
benefit, but also provides advice and guidance to other people on
benefits about the other services available to them.
Councillor Dale Mulgrew, cabinet member for health and social
care, said: “Since the In2Work project started we’ve helped more
than one person a week on average to get off benefits and into
employment. The project helps people increase their independence,
aspiration and confidence, and improve their health and well-being
so that they can get back to work. Being in work then helps to
further those qualities and we generally see people’s health
improve even more too.”
The project launched in January 2007 and, to date, 296 people
have completed first step training. 39 people have also achieved a
qualification.
A total of 105 people have now found full time employment
through In2Work, and a further 16 people are working under the
supported permitted work rule (where you can work part time and
earn up to a set amount while still being entitled to benefits). 32
people have got involved in voluntary work as a result of the
project, and a further 6 are on work experience placements.
In2Work has outreach bases on Kirkholt and Langley and takes
part in a weekly drop-in session in Lower Falinge. Regular
door-knocking initiatives take place too in areas where there is a
higher than average concentration of people claiming
sickness-related benefits.