08/06/2010
Gavin's success demonstrates effectiveness of Future Jobs Fund
The success of the Future Jobs Fund was demonstrated today when Gavin Ramsey, a previously unemployed young person from Haringey, was offered a job following his employment under the scheme.
Gavin, 24, has spent the last six months working for Four Corners Film, an arts and media social enterprise based in Tower Hamlets. He accessed the Future Jobs Fund through Social Enterprise London, which is running a successful programme providing 500 disadvantaged young people with jobs in London’s burgeoning social enterprise movement. The aim of the programme, which is called London’s Future 500, is to inspire the next generation of social entrepreneurs.
It was announced by the Coalition Government this month that the Future Jobs Fund will not accept any further applications, but that existing programmes, including London’s Future 500, will continue as planned.
It is anticipated that Gavin, who was one of the first recruits to the programme, will be followed by many more young people into full time employment as a result of their exposure to the Future Jobs Fund.
Gavin said:
“My time here at Four Corners has boosted my confidence, improved my administration and office skills and reintroduced me to the workplace with reinvigorated ambition. I’m privileged to be working for such a unique organisation and sincerely hope the Future Jobs Fund initiative continues to provide opportunities for people in my position.”
Social Enterprise London Chief Executive Allison Ogden-Newton said:
“At SEL we have been overwhelmed by the success of London’s Future 500 programme, where through the Future Jobs Fund we have created a new generation of social entrepreneurs. This stuff is social gold, so we will be scanning the horizon to see what new program replaces it. My hope is that it is even better. If back to work schemes work, everyone is a winner, employer, employee, taxpayer. If they are done on the cheap and tie clients up in knots, everyone loses. No one wants today’s school and university leavers to miss that first crucial rung on the jobs ladder. SEL and the Government want to see Big Society become dynamic and with the right support it will.”