Extra help for Burnley jobseekers

Burnley Jobcentre Plus has been working with partner organisations in Burnley to provide support to prepare claimants for job interviews such as CV sessions with Vedas and competency based recruitment techniques with Lancashire Adult Learning.

It comes as the latest figures for Universal Credit claimants in Burnley showed that 2,395 people claimed the out of work benefit in January this year, an increase of 725 from the same time last year. However, there are now 335 less people claiming out of work benefits compared to five years ago.

Cathy Ross, partnership manager at the Jobcentre, said: “Work to support the opening of a new Primark store in Burnley this spring has been a key focus.

“We are also managing recruitments locally for Voyage Care, Pendle Rise Shopping Centre, BT and Lancashire County Council. Many of our claimants need help to make smaller steps towards work, especially those who have not worked for a long time.

“We are working with external organisations to help our claimants to overcome their barriers to work by sourcing volunteering opportunities, taster sessions, confidence building and IT courses.

“This month has seen us working closely with the Prince’s Trust, Lancashire Adult Learning, Burnley College, the Women’s Centre and Standguide.”