WIREDGOV

The fund was set up by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity in the disadvantaged areas within the UK.  

From April 2009 new arrangements for the delivery of the fund will see two new local partnerships being set up in Wales that will identify priorities, to work together in a more joined-up way, and to join resources to add value to the work that DWP and Jobcentre Plus are doing at a local level.

The Welsh Assembly Government is working closely with the DWP and Job Centre Plus to ensure the new arrangements support the Assembly Government’s skills agenda set out in ‘Skills that Work for Wales’ as well as key programmes and projects such as ReAct and Genesis Cymru 2.

Bids have also been invited for the new partnerships with the aim of the partnerships developing solutions to tackling unemployment that are tailored to local needs.

Deputy Minister for Skills John Griffiths said:

In Wales the Deprived Area Fund will be worth £6m between 2009-2011. The fund has had considerable success in encouraging more people into work and training.

The fund provides an opportunity for partners in the private, voluntary and statutory sectors to work together to help local people to gain valuable skills and experience that will hopefully lead to employment.

The two new partnership areas and details about how funding will be allocated will be announced in April.

Related Information

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/?lang=en