₤4.5m Initiative to Help Households Into Work Up and Running

A team of 24 advocates who will help 800 unemployed families into work across the Liverpool City Region have started a 2 week induction programme at the City Region's Combined Authority.

The Households into Work programme is a pilot scheme funded with ₤3.5m from the Department for Work and Pensions, and ₤1m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

Under the scheme, the 24 advocates, based in each of the 6 Liverpool City Region Local Authority areas, will work with 800 households where 2 or more adults are not in work.

They will identify barriers to people getting into work, such as childcare issues, debt, or lack of skills, and put a bespoke intensive support package in place for each individual to help them get into the workplace.

Speaking about the scheme, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said:- "It was a pleasure to welcome our new advocates as they start a 2 week induction programme before getting to work across our City Region. These individuals will be at the front line of implementing this innovative scheme and I am confident that they will make a real difference. When I was elected, I said that I want to ensure that fairness and social justice is etched into every policy, every service and economic initiative delivered through the Combined Authority. A major part of that has to be ensuring that everyone in the City Region has the opportunity to reach their potential. And that means making sure that people have 2nd chances. Because enabling people to achieve meaningful employment does not just benefit those individuals; it benefits their families, their communities and our City Region as a whole."

The 24 Employment Advocates will be in place in their local areas and ready to start working with households, from 5 March 2018.

Hospice asks businesses to support Ladies Day

EVERY May, the St. Joseph's Hospice Ladies Day attracts women of all generations from across Merseyside. It's 1 of the Hospice's biggest fundraising events of the year when ladies enjoy a bit of pampering and shopping, a few drinks, a delicious 3 course lunch and a disco. This year, Spring Ladies Day will take place, on Sunday, 20 May 2018, from 11.30am, at Formby Hall and the Hospice is looking for local businesses to sponsor the event or even book a stall.  For more information about sponsorship packages, visit:- Jospice.Org.UK.  Laura Smith, community fundraiser, said:- "This is always a really successful event and we have a number of sponsorship opportunities available for businesses of all sizes and budgets, from as little as ₤100. In return, we can give businesses exposure on the day as well as some great publicity, not to mention the good reputation which comes from supporting a worthwhile cause like the Hospice.  If you make or sell any beauty products, clothing, accessories or crafts, we are also taking bookings for stalls on the day. If you would like to offer our ladies an exciting shopping experience, please get in touch and secure your space as soon as possible. Stalls cost just ₤40 and your support will make a big difference to our patients and their families."  To book a stall or become a Ladies Day sponsor, please call Laura on:- 0151 932 6026 or send an email.