City Region Propoganda

Slice of £5m set to aid borough people

By Deborah Collins

People in Telford could benefit from a slice of £5 million aimed at boosting employment in disadvantaged areas across the region.

The West Midlands city region, which includes Telford, is to benefit from money granted as the result of a successful bid to help increase levels of employment and improve people's skills. The cash, from central government, will tackle unemployment, social exclusion and child poverty across the region, A share of the money, to be distributed through a city strategy, will be used in Donnington and Malinslee to help people with special physical or learning needs get access to employment.

Staff from the Learning and Skills Council and JobCentre Plus will be working with employers to improve employment rates.

Successes

Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council Keith Austin welcomed the news.

"It underlines the fact that our commitment to being part of the wider city region community is already bringing real benefits to help people in Telford," he said.

"I am sure that this will be the first of many successes from our partnership working with other local authorities and I am pleased that, locally, disadvantaged people will be among the first to be helped."

Richard Webb, corporate director for adult social care said the cash would bring real benefits.

"The city strategy is about putting excluded people at the heart of our ambitions for a dynamic city region," said Mr Webb.

"Finding and keeping a job is vital for everyone's self esteem, health and well-being.

"This successful bid and our joint working with the primary care trust means that we are well placed to help people with disabilities and long term illness to either get back into work or to take the first step into a real job".

The West Midlands City Region includes eight local authority areas across Birmingham, the Black Country, Telford, Solihull and Conventry.

Erm, can I just point out that the West Midlands City Region doesn't even exist yet?