Across the country including here in Barnsley, thousands more people will be helped back towards employment through support, ranging from peer-to-peer support groups to mental health support, thanks to an £80 million funding package announced on Thursday 16th October.
In Barnsley, more than 42,000 people are estimated to be economically inactive.
This can be for a number of reasons, whether it be due to a physical limitation, mental health purposes, or something else.
What we know is that many people who are not currently in work want that to change, but are not sure how to get back into the workplace.
Earlier this year, the Government announced Pathways to Work in Barnsley, based on the work Barnsley Council have done through the Pathways to Work Commission. This aims to get people back to work, offering those with long-term health conditions or disabilities the tailored support they need to be able to access the workplace once again. This includes individual coaching from employment specialists, job matching services, and ongoing support for participants and employers.
We know that work brings many people a sense of purpose, significantly reducing poverty and raising living standards. Research shows that fulfilling work is good for physical and mental health.
That is why this Labour Government is committed to providing the support that people need, focusing on opportunity and respect to ensure that everyone is seen and valued.
The extra money allocated this month will be targeted at areas of the country with the highest levels of economic inactivity, giving those furthest from employment tools to get back to work.
Unlike traditional employment support, inactivity trailblazers empower local areas to design tailored solutions that tackle the root causes of economic inactivity – such as poor mental health, low skills, and barriers like social isolation – rather than just treating the symptoms.
New support will include work readiness skills, employer engagement to change hiring practices and support Local Growth Plans, mental health support, confidence-building social groups and skills training to move thousands more people closer to the labour market.
These groundbreaking schemes are helping to break the vicious cycle between poor mental health and unemployment by trialling initiatives that combine job support with health and skills support.
By taking a holistic approach, the programme is already delivering results through early intervention, flexible training and working directly with employers to create supportive environments, rather than treating health and employment as separate issues.
As a result, the government has chosen to extend this support, which has seen the introduction of innovative pilots such as community link worker projects, which connect local residents to support services, as well as developing a new digital self-referral platform to signpost people to access local health and employment support services.
The funding builds on recently announced investment in youth employment support, including a £25 million boost for Youth Hubs and a £45 million extension to the Youth Guarantee trailblazer scheme.
As the Minister for Youth, I have been really pleased to support these measures to ensure that young people in Barnsley and across the country have the opportunities that they need to reach their full potential.
The funding comes after ONS figures showed 9.1 million people remain economically inactive across the UK.
This investment is central to the Government’s Plan for Change mission to break down barriers to opportunity and kickstart economic growth by getting Britain working again.
This approach recognises that behind every unemployment or inactive statistic is a real person with real potential – and that with the right support, everyone deserves the chance to build a better future through meaningful work.