Reduce poverty by supporting residents into sustainable employment, and promoting employment opportunities
Helping residents back to work
There are now 3,000 more people in work in Hackney than there were a year ago. However, the number of residents out of work is still a challenge, and in particular the number of 16-18 year olds not in employment, education or training. The Council and our partners have responded to this challenge with new, creative approaches over the past year.
Ways into Work is a pilot programme sponsored by the Government Department of Work and Pensions. It aims to remove barriers to training and employment by providing assistance with childcare, advice on benefits, basic skills, CV writing, interview techniques, travel costs, and ongoing support in the workplace. This tailored service has been delivered to tenants by their social housing providers, through door-to-door visits, and at housing offices, community centres and events.
In its first year, the project made contact with 1,800 Hackney residents. Of these, 1,445 received support to prepare them for the workplace and 727 have succeeded in getting a job.
On the Woodberry Down estate, a community library service run by local volunteers has helped 14 people back into work.
Providing vital support
In the current economic climate, it is vital that residents have confidence that the financial support they need can be provided swiftly if a job doesn’t last. Over the past year, Hackney remained in the top quarter of Councils for processing benefits claims quickly.
The Council provided benefits staff to support financial advisers at Hackney, Dalston and Hoxton Job Centre Plus offices. We also published an advice leaflet, ‘Did you know…’ and web pages to signpost residents and families experiencing difficulty through the economic downturn to the Council and other agencies for information, advice and financial and emotional support.
Free energy efficiency advice was provided to householders by London Energy Efficiency Ltd (LEEL) providing practical money and energy saving advice.
Equipping young people for life
More of our young people were in education, employment or training last year than ever before. A number of schemes, funded by Team Hackney, were introduced to continue to develop the range of opportunities for young people to stay in education, take up training or find work.
Youth Support Teams, who provide intensive levels of support to young people to help them to find work, training or educational opportunities, expanded their work over the past year. Mentors were introduced to work with young people who attend Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to help them to identify opportunities beyond their full time education.
‘Keep it Moving’, a new employment and training programme, was launched to help young people who are not in work, education or employment to identify opportunities. The Council also provided 21 apprenticeships for people aged 16 -24 last year, and we will continue to build on this into 2009/10.
Hackney is also leading the way on the development of Diplomas as a way of increasing choice for 14 and 16 year olds. A number of the new national Diplomas are being piloted in Hackney. In 2008, Hackney ran Society, Health and Development; Construction and the Built Environment, and Creative and Media Diplomas.
From 2009, Hackney will also offer Diplomas in Land Based and Environmental Sciences; Business Administration and Finance; and Hospitality. We’re looking at offering four further Diplomas in Public Services; Sport and Active Leisure; Retail Business and Travel; and Tourism to be introduced from September 2010.
The Council works closely with Hackney Community College to deliver employment focused training, including a range of courses in hospitality, catering, construction and security to help unemployed people compete for jobs created by the 2012 Games.
Better transport connections
Work to create Hackney’s first proper connection to the Tube network, through the extension of the East London Line, is well underway. The Line is due to open by June 2010 with four new step-free stations at Dalston Junction, Haggerston, Hoxton and Shoreditch High Street. It will link Hackney to the City, Canary Wharf, the West End and Stratford and it will eventually form part of the orbital railway around London, improving access to job opportunities for residents. A further extension to Highbury and Islington is due by 2011, followed by an extension to Clapham Junction.
The North London Line will benefit from a major upgrade and increased frequency of service. New trains will be introduced, with room for more passengers in the carriages, air-conditioning, CCTV and improved accessibility, with dedicated wheelchair bays.
Investing in our town centres
Major consultations about our vision for Dalston and Hackney Central were carried out last year. A major consultation about Hackney Wick Fish Island will take place in 2009/10. These will be used to help deliver new housing, shops, employment, open space, transport links, and community facilities, whilst protecting and enhancing the unique local character.
Major developments are already underway in Dalston. At the heart of this is a new square – the largest public space built in the area for over 100 years. The square will also house the entrance to the new London Overground station Dalston Junction – set to open in 2010.
Securing the 2012 legacy
Hackney officially became a host borough for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in September 2008. During the Games, the eyes of the world will be on Hackney. The International Broadcast Centre and Main Press Centre in Hackney Wick will house around 20,000 journalists from across the world, reporting to an international audience of four billion.
We are committed to ensuring that the Games deliver a meaningful legacy for our residents and our borough, with high quality jobs being a top priority.
The media centres will provide around 900,000 square feet of business space following the Games. We secured the commitment that the buildings will have flexible structures that can be converted for employment use after the Games, and have started negotiations with potential occupiers.
Hackney will also benefit from a sporting legacy as the Handball Arena for the Games will remain here after the Games and will be transformed into a multi-sport community facility.
Hackney also worked with the other four 2012 Host Boroughs and the Government to reduce unemployment. The Council recently received national accreditation, known as Beacon Status, for using 2012 as an opportunity to encourage local people to become more active.
Seven venues in the borough, including leisure centres, parks, academies and Hackney Community College have London 2012 pregames training camp status. This means that teams from across the world could be based in Hackney as they prepare for the Games.
Showcasing business excellence
The fourth annual Mayor’s Business Awards took place in Shoreditch Town Hall. Twenty one businesses were shortlisted in nine categories.
Small and medium sized businesses and entrepreneurs are at the heart of Hackney’s local economy. The awards recognise and celebrate the excellence and diversity of businesses in the borough. They showcase successes in Hackney’s business community, and reward companies and individuals with enterprising ideas who have excelled.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
.