During these difficult times it is vital that people get up-to-date information that is available to them. The Government is acting because extra support is needed to get us through the economic downturn and not to repeat the mistake the Tories made by leaving families and communities to cope on their own. Therefore, it is imperative that people in our area have access to the extra support available for families, pensioners, homeowners, and for those people who are looking to get back on the employment ladder.

Recently I witnessed first hand the Government’s support to helping the unemployed during these difficult times when I visited Jobcentre Plus’ new Resource and Advice Centre in Jarrow. The facility is part of the Government’s £0.5 billion funding to assist those people affected by the economic downturn. The drop-in service, based in

Grange Road

in the town centre, provides support to jobseekers from a Jobcentre Plus advisor, including help with searching for jobs and applying for some of over 600 job vacancies that are advertised with Jobcentre Plus each month in South Tyneside, as well as accessing training.  

At present there are over 6,000 people unemployed in South Tyneside. If you or a loved one were to lose a job, the Government is providing support from day one. There is now practical help if you lose your job with one to one support and advice and free new training courses available. Labour has invested £2 billion already to make sure people get the help they need at every stage of unemployment. And from next year, every young person under the age of 25 who has been out of work for a year will have to take a job, training or work experience place. The Government’s £1 billion Future Jobs Fund will also provide 100,000 jobs for young people and a further 50,000 new jobs in areas of high unemployment.

We all know these are tough times for people in this area and a lot of hard work lies ahead. That is why I am pleased that we have a Government that understands that the way to emerge faster and stronger from the current economic downturn is to invest in people and provide real support to people who need it most.  Unlike the Tory approach of simply doing nothing and hoping for the best!