Community groups and young people have joined local MP Yvette Cooper to call for the restoration of the future jobs fund.
The new Conservative/Liberal government have chosen to cut £300million from the Future Jobs Fund (FJF) with claims that it is “simply not working”.
The plans mean cuts in 90,000 jobs across the country, around 7,000 for Yorkshire, and hundreds of jobs in our area.
David Laws (Chief Secretary to the Treasury at the time) claimed that the fund was "not effective"; former Work & Pensions Secretary and Local MP Yvette Cooper challenged this and called on him to produce evidence to back up his claims.
There are 26 organisations across the Wakefield district, including Wakefield council, Chrysalis, Castleford Heritage Trust, Wakefield District Housing, Glasshoughton Community Forum and St Giles who have signed up to the fund and are offering young people real jobs with real prospects.
Local MP Yvette Cooper is calling on everyone involved in the scheme to join together to show the government that the jobs fund is working.
Yvette said:
“The Future Jobs Fund has already placed hundreds of young people into real jobs which offer them real skills and opportunities. These cuts are damaging to our area and the local economy.
“It is complete madness to cut all these youth jobs now and will cost us all more because unemployment benefit will be higher as a result.
“I've spoken to loads of young people in this area who've told me how hard it still is to find work and what a lifeline the future jobs fund has been. And local groups and organisations across our towns are working incredibly hard to offer good jobs and opportunities for young people. Telling them that the future jobs fund isn't working is out of touch, and an insult to them.”
Leader of WMDC, Peter Box said:
“The Future Jobs Fund has proved a huge success over the past six months, creating job opportunities for young people who have been struggling to find work during these tough economic times.
“To cut funding now from such an important scheme, which is providing those taking part with vital new skills and work experience and helping to widen their options for future employment, would quite frankly be a major blow for our district.”
Alison Drake of Bridge Arts, Castleford said:
“they [the Conservative/Liberal government] can’t threaten to punish people for not working then pull away opportunities; without it [the FJF] we wouldn’t have had the desperate help we needed”
Rev Bob Cooper of St Giles, Pontefract said:
“The jobs fund is working exceptionally well and has brought benefit to both the person involved and to the community they serve. I would very much welcome a continuation and would be disappointed if the new administration withdrew the funding from this excellent scheme.”
Joanne from St Giles, Pontefract said:
“This is a fantastic job that I love that wouldn’t have been there without the Future Jobs Fund. It’s the best thing that could have happened; it’s given me a future and a great opportunity.”
Neil Kennedy, Chrysalis, Airedale said:
“The Future Jobs Fund has proved a great initiative which has allowed us to recruit 6 further employees. The opportunity that we’re able to offer provides training, qualifications and hands on work experience for those young people. This is vital for them and their future careers.”
Angela who works at the car clinic at Chrysalis, Airedale said:
“It’s the biggest opportunity I’ve been given, I tried and tried to get something and this is just like the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact it’s the only opportunity I’ve been given. I don’t understand why they want to cut it; they’re not giving people opportunities they really need. It’s just wrong. The scheme has only just started; they haven’t even given it chance to work. How can they say it’s not working?!” | 
