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Embargoed for 00.01 Wednesday 10th March 2010: New help on jobs for Military families

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 09 March 2010

A new web based one-stop-shop for Military families looking for employment and training, and a network of Jobcentre Plus Armed Forces Champions are amongst a package of initiatives to support Service families announced today by Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, and Bob Ainsworth, Secretary of State for Defence.

The package of measures, which also look at how childcare and school places allocation meet the needs of Service families, are published in a report by the Service Families Employment Taskforce. It was chaired by Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, and included representatives from the Service families federations and the public and private sectors.

These measures build on the progress made by the cross-government 2008 Service Personnel Command Paper. This was published to address any disadvantage faced by Armed Forces personnel, their families and veterans, as a result of their military service. It can be difficult for wives, husbands, partners and families who live on bases to get a job or access services such as childcare or training.

Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality, said:

"The families of our Service personnel have always held things together at home, and their task has become even more demanding with the forces fighting in Afghanistan. We need to give service families every support.

They must have the chance to get training, work and childcare. But, as I have seen first hand from my visits to military bases, that is hard if they have to move regularly and are located on a base miles away from parents and in-laws.

"The Service Families Employment Taskforce initiatives will help to ensure that Service families do not lose out and have the same access to childcare, school places and transport as everyone else; and that employers recognise that moving from place to place is a part of life for Service families, not a lack of commitment to work."

Bob Ainsworth, Secretary of State for Defence, said:

"The challenges which Service personnel face in the Armed Forces are unique. They are required to deploy wherever their service takes them and the impact of this is considerable, particularly on their families.

Today's announcement builds on previous initiatives and I am pleased that Kevan Jones, Minister for Veterans, will be launching the Jobcentre Plus Armed Forces Champions alongside Lord McKenzie later today. We will continue to honour our commitment to the Armed Forces and make sure that military life does not make it harder to access services."

Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said:

"Families of the armed forces often have to move around, and may live away from their extended family and friends. This can make it harder to find work, or someone to look after the kids if you do have a job. That is why we now have Armed Forces Champions in every Jobcentre Plus district to make sure that Service families get the best help and support available from people who understand their unique circumstances."

Other measures in the Taskforce report are:

* Changes to the Vocational Qualifications system to provide flexible and portable qualifications which will help Service families to continue with their learning when they move.

* Revised guidance to local authorities on childcare which will include identifying and meeting the childcare needs of Service families.

* Guidance on school admissions to ensure local schools make full use of the flexibility in the system to accommodate Service children.

* Regular reviews with local authorities of how Sure Start Children's Centres serve Service families.

* Adjustments to civil service recruitment so that flexible career opportunities are available to partners of Service personnel who work for the civil service.

* Exploring what more can be done to ensure Service families get the support they are entitled to through tax credits.

* Review of accessibility issues for remote bases such as guidance to local authorities when they are drawing up their next transport plan.

The network of Jobcentre Plus Armed Forces Champions is now in place in every Jobcentre Plus district. They will work with local military commanders and families on how best to help Service families get support and advice on job opportunities. They also liaise with local partners and employers to raise the profile of the Service community and make sure they are aware of the skills and experience Service families can offer.

The web based jobs and training one-stop-shop will allow Service families to find out what jobs and training are available in the areas where bases are located, and to apply online. The service will be available this spring via two existing websites: Directgov (search for 'jobs'), and the Royal British Legion Civvy Street jobs portal.

The Government has been working with the private sector to improve employment and training opportunities for Service families. Companies such as Sodexo Defence, Carillion, Capita and Enterprise will pilot two initiatives over the next 12 months: programmes of employment and training skills for Service family children aged over 16; and call centres staffed by Service families from a variety of locations, which could include their own homes.

Rebecca Symon, Communications Director at Sodexo Defence, who are already supporting Service families through a number of initiatives, said:

"It's a win-win situation for both businesses and Service families. We find that Service families bring a diverse set of skills and experience and we are actively reaching out to them to encourage them to apply for jobs with us. Their knowledge of military life means they often bring an understanding of the needs of our customers; from providing support services to units in the run-up to a deployment, to the provision of furniture to Service families' accommodation.

"We recognise that short periods of employment or gaps on the CV of a Service family member doesn't mean a lack of commitment, and the interest they often have in flexible working can be an asset in today's employment practice."

The Government Equalities Office and The Ministry of Defence will also publish a short guide which will be available to Service families and will have practical advice on where to go for support on employment and training.

The Service Families Employment Taskforce report is available at:

www.equalities.gov.uk

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

Please contact the Government Equalities Office press office on 0207 276 0459.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

* The initiative to help members of Service families get better access to employment and training opportunities was launched by Harriet Harman and Bob Ainsworth on 19 November 2009. The publication of the Taskforce report is a key milestone in taking that initiative forward.

* On 10 March 2010 Mr Kevan Jones, Minister for Veterans at the Ministry of Defence, and Lord McKenzie, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Work and Pensions, will launch the Jobcentre Plus Armed Forces Champions network at the Colchester office of Jobcentre Plus. For further details or if you wish to attend, please contact Sara McKinnon at DWP press office on 020 7340 4056.

* The Government published the Service Personnel Command Paper in July 2008, which set out more than 40 measures to improve the lives of the Armed Forces community. The first Annual Report on progress with the Command Paper, produced by the External Reference Group which monitors the Government's work, was released in November 2009.

* The Royal British Legion Civvy Street jobs portal is available at www.civvystreet.org

* Directgov is available at www.direct.gov.uk

* The Government Equalities Office is responsible for the Government's overall strategy, legislation, and priorities on equality issues. The Office also has direct responsibility for policy on gender, sexual orientation and transgender equality, and for integrating work on race. The Prime Minister announced the establishment of the Government Equalities Office (GEO) in July 2007 and it became a Department in its own right in October 2007. It works to Ministers Harriet Harman, Maria Eagle, Vera Baird and Michael Foster.

Contacts:

Government Equalities Office press office
Phone: 0207 276 0932
enquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk