 Funding
of £1m to help disadvantaged parents across North Ayrshire with flexible
childcare and support to help them access training or employment was
announced today.
The money is to be targeted at parents on low incomes, lone parents and
families who are vulnerable due to, for example, disability, and mental
health or substance abuse problems.
Labour MSP for Cunninghame North Allan Wilson said: “the Scottish Executive
is committed to ensuring that local people can access employment
opportunities as the best means of combating poverty”.
“A lack of flexible and affordable childcare is a barrier to work for many
parents but so too is a lack of confidence or not having the necessary
skills to get onto a training programme or cope with a job interview”.
“This money will enable many parents in North Ayrshire to develop their
skills, attend college or night classes and even access work while they are
secure in the knowledge that their children are being cared for in a safe
environment”.
“The additional funds can be used to provide information, advice and
guidance services on training and employment opportunities, health issues
and finance and debt management. It can also provide subsidies to help
parents who are accessing training or employment to meet childcare costs for
example in the evening or during holiday periods” said Mr Wilson.
The £20m Working for Families Fund was announced by Communities Minister
Margaret Curran in September 2002 and comes from the Scottish budget
Employment and Childcare Fund to be allocated in 2004/5 and in 2005/6.
The funding is being distributed to local authorities where there are more
than 3,000 children of claimants of income-based Jobseekers Allowance and
Income Support and where children in these circumstances account for more
than 20 per cent of the under 16 population. The fund has been extended to
take account of the two highest ranking rural authorities. |
