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A Helping HandEnhancing the role of voluntary, community and social enterprise

organisations in employment support programmes in London

Economy Committee

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However, disabled and BAME Londoners are significantly less likely to be in employment.

And the Work Programme is not performing well for those further from the labour market, including Employment and Support allowance claimants, disabled people and people over 50.

Overall unemployment in London is falling.

And the Work Programme (the Government’s main welfare-to-work programme) is achieving reasonable results for those closer to the labour market.

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VCSE organisations have a long history and established track record in supporting those further from the labour market. They often:

better differentiate the support needed by different groups

can more readily earn the trust and respect of local people

can harness volunteer capacity.

have a willingness to do ‘what works’

have a keener sense of cultural awareness

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But our review has identified a number of challenges to their involvement in these programmes. These include:

variable commissioning practice

current payment-by- results mechanisms

the demise of grant funding

Concerns about mandatory work placements

the size of contracts

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The Mayor and government should take further action to ensure voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations can be part of delivering employment support programmes.

This is not giving ‘special treatment’ to the sector, but is about recognising the specific nature of, and challenges facing, VCSE organisations.

Our report makes a number of recommendations, including…

 Our investigation concluded that…

Photo credit: Tom Simpson

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1. Reform payment by results

The Mayor should champion the GLA’s approach to payment by results – offering advance payments and rewarding milestones

The Department of Work and Pensions should adopt a reformed payment by results model which allows advance payments and rewarding of milestones, rather than final outcomes only.

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2. Promote good practice

A Mayoral award for climate change adaptation should be launched to encourage adaptation planning and sharing of best practice.

Photo credit: Tom Simpson

The Mayor, London Enterprise Panel and partners should develop a resource of shared good practice and lessons learnt. This could take the form of an interactive map.

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3. Champion voluntary approaches 

The Mayor and London Enterprise Panel should champion choice-based and voluntary approaches within employment programmes and call for an end to mandatory placements.

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4. Harness devolution

The Mayor and London Enterprise Panel should set out how devolving employment programmes could address barriers to the ongoing involvement of the widest range of VCSE organisations.

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Further information

Download ‘A Helping Hand’ at www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/publications/a-helping-hand

Scrutiny contacteconomycommittee@london.gov.uk020 7983 6542

Media enquiriesLisa.Lam@london.gov.uk020 7983 4067

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