New project to get Camden working

A new service helping long-term unemployed Camden residents back into work has been officially launched last week. Backed by Camden Council the Camden Working One Stop Shop aims to help at least 165 people back into sustainable work in its first year.

Funded by the London Development Agency (LDA) the centre is free to businesses, long-term unemployed residents or unemployed people living in disadvantaged areas in the Camden. The centre provides advice and support when applying for jobs and links people to suitable jobs exclusively advertised through it. Based in the Crowndale centre in Camden Town, the shop will also help people to maintain their job when necessary.

To make it as easy as possible for Camden Working One Stop Shopís candidates to access jobs as soon as they become available, it has set up a dedicated website. This will host details of all current jobs and enable applicants to apply online. Since it first started operating it has already helped 49 people find a job, but will not count anyone as successfully in work until they have been employed for over 13 weeks.

Welcoming the centreís full official opening at a ceremony held today Cllr Theo Blackwell, Executive Member for Equalities, Social Inclusion and Regeneration, said: ìCamden has an extremely diverse and thriving economy. Yet there are many people in the borough who are missing out on the employment opportunities that exist. Camden Working shows just how we can help local people get those jobs.î

ìCamden Working is there for all the boroughís residents, but is ideally located to benefit people in Camden Town, Somers Town, St. Pancras and the Regentís Park Estate where unemployment remains above the Camden average.î

Simon Small, Manager of Camden Working One Stop Shop, said: ìCamden Working is there to help people make that first step back to work. Weíre focusing on those that most need help finding and keeping a job. Iím proud that we are already helping Camden residents get jobs, but itís clear we need to help people stay in work. That will be the measure of our success.î

Camden Working One Stop Shop is part of the broader Camden Working initiative. This project works in partnership with agencies from across the borough to deliver innovative services that help residents overcome the barriers that prevent them from working, as well as helping people find and maintain employment.

Camden Working has already delivered schemes to help women with children back into work, a modern apprenticeship programme, a job preparation course for Nursing Auxiliary vacancies and a jobs fair for environmental based work.

Linda Highton, Head of Central and South London Regeneration at the LDA said: ìWe have identified the area between Kingís Cross and Finsbury Park as one of our top priorities. Over the last 2 years we have spent around 3.5 million to support the regeneration of the area and to help unlock more opportunities for local people. Camden Working is another significant step towards developing a coherent approach to tackling high levels of worklessness in the area.

ìThe project has been informed by the LDA funded ëJust the Jobí report, and has been developed through a ëNetworkí of local employment and training organizations pulled together under the brand of ëCamden Workingí.î

Cllr Theo Blackwell, added: Later this year Camden Council will launch its new Employment Strategy. This will seek to work with local businesses and public sector organisations to ensure we get more people from the most excluded communities back into work. It aims to give local people the best chance to benefit from the extra 20,000 jobs that will be created by the Kingís Cross Development over the next 15 years.î