Shaw Trust Chief Executive Calls For Added Investment To Be Matched With A More Positive Approach

IAN Charlesworth, Chief Executive of the UK's largest third sector provider of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people, today welcomed the news that more money will be invested in getting people back into work and off of benefits, but warned that Government must do more to tackle the benefit blame culture.

"The UK is the world's fourth largest economy and yet we still spend five times less than the average European country on getting people back into work, so greater investment is to be welcomed," he said.

"But while we spend more on keeping people in day care and dependency, regardless of their aspirations, than we do on giving people the training, confidence and experience to get them back into work and blaming benefit recipients for their situation, then we are merely reinforcing the problem.

"It's about time that Government started to invest in existing claimants as well as new claimants, and it's important that employment providers have the right resources to ensure the right results for each individual client. We don't want to see a two-tier welfare system. We want to raise aspirations and move people into fulfilling and sustainable employment.

"It's all very well for Government to talk about people having a responsibility to work, but there are often complex reasons why people end up on benefit and find it so difficult to move of off it. We need to start building people's confidence again, instilling a 'can do' attitude rather than berating them for their misfortunes in the national news. We know our clients are desperate to work. We all have to take responsibility for removing the barriers."

The Government's own research shows that for every £1 they spend on programmes like NDDP to get people back to work they save between £2 - £5, and Shaw Trust is calling for politicians on all sides of the debate to commit to making the investment required to employment programmes so that more people can be supported into work and at the same time, to deliver best value for the tax payer.

* Ian Charlesworth is available for interview

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Public Affairs Manager Carli Harper-Penman on 07725 307 988 or you can email crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk

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.

3. Across the UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

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