| An information and advice event was held at the Marryat Hall today to launch the Working for Families initiative, funded with cash allocated to the city council by the Scottish Executive.
Opening the event, council economic development convener Joe Morrow said “Many unemployed parents find it difficult to gain access to employment and training because of the high cost of childcare compared to their income.”
He said it was important everyone had the chance to take advantage of opportunities that increasingly required specialist training and skills.
Today’s event was held in conjunction with a range of partner organisations including Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Jobcentre Plus, Action Team for Jobs and Dundee Voluntary Action.
Among the projects on which the money will be spent is a series of community creches located in disadvantaged areas of the city. There will initially be five, but that could be increased if demand is there, and finance permits.
Councillor Morrow said, “Child poverty can be reduced if parents are given the chance to take up a job and reduce dependency on benefits.”
A range of initiatives to support parents are being launched or expanded, including providing link workers to assess people’s training or learning needs; access to money advice workers from the council’s social work department’s welfare rights team; a sitter service to provide childcare in the family’s own home; and a subsidy on childcare costs.
While the Working for families scheme will target disadvantaged areas of Dundee it will also be available to people outwith those areas who meet the criteria.
Further information can be obtained by phoning 01382 434106/434519. |
