James Purnell MP to meet local people in Ashton Under Lyne

2 March 2009

Minister to meet local people who have made the transition from benefits to work.

Secretary of State for Works and Pensions, James Purnell, will be visiting Shaw Trust’s Ashton Under Lyne office on Friday 6 March.

Shaw Trust is a national charity which delivers the Jobcentre Plus-managed Pathways to Work programme for Greater Manchester East and West. Mr Purnell will be meeting some of those who have made the transition into employment already.

At the end of the three year programme, which launched in December 2007, nearly 15,000 will have made the break from benefits to employment in Greater Manchester East and West.

The Pathways to Work programme provides individual tailored support for both mandatory and voluntary clients. As part of Shaw Trust’s service we offer constant support, motivational and confidence building courses and employability courses, as well as providing a condition management programme to support people to manage their condition in the workplace.

Pathways is a triumph of partnership working, particularly between the public sector and the Third Sector. It is a powerful programme because it is combining the skills of Jobcentre Plus and the expertise of the Third Sector in a programme that puts the clients’ needs right at its heart.

Julie Hart, Area Employment Manager from Shaw Trust comments:
“We are delighted to welcome the Secretary of State to our Ashton office. We knew he’d be interested in meeting some of our clients, because there is no better way of demonstrating the impact that this programme is having on people’s lives, and on the lives of the delivery team too. It is such a privilege for us to see our clients break through the barriers and achieve their goals.”

“Behind every benefits-into-work statistic there is an inspirational story of the huge personal achievements of people who have regained self esteem and found new purpose by becoming part of the working world again.”

People on Incapacity Benefits who want to join the Pathways programme to help them get back to work should call 0808 180 2001 or visit www.shaw-trust.org.uk
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Notes to editors:

1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust's Press Officer Samantha Jobber on 01225 716 300 or 07595 214 649.

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels. Across the UK around 1,400 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

3. If you would like to support the work that Shaw Trust does to help disabled and disadvantaged people find work and achieve independence please visit our website
http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/support_us

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