Three new projects launched to support people to find employment in West Cheshire

Cheshire West and Chester Council will be launching three People and Skills projects on 1 June 2024, aimed at supporting adults and young people across the borough find employment.

These projects are being funded through the Council’s People and Skills allocation as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The Council’s Skills and Employment team already deliver a broad range of employment support programmes on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions and NHS partners, however there are still some residents who fall through the cracks and for whom a more bespoke offer is more suitable. The ‘Defining Futures’ programme will have a particular focus on those adults with disabilities, those who find themselves at risk of becoming homeless, people living in more remote, rural communities or those aged over 50. 

This is a pre-cursor for the UK Government’s new Universal Support programme to be launched later in the year, which aims to provide personalised help to people facing complex barriers to work.

A complimentary “Skills and Employment” project will be delivered by Weaver Vale Housing Trust which aims to support residents to get ready for employment – mentally and physically, offering tailored packages of support that are not available elsewhere – whether that is helping individuals to access the gym to improve their fitness, access to an increased level of counselling support or guidance on becoming self-employed.

The third project, called ‘Fresh Start’, is aimed at supporting economically inactive residents, who are not in employment and have either not been seeking work or have been unable to start work. The project aims to support young people aged 16+ to access employment support leading to quality local jobs. Across Cheshire West and Chester, there has been an increase in the numbers of young people dropping out of education and looking for employment, but due to their age, are not able to access job support until they are 19. This project aims to pilot an employment support model used with adults with this younger age group.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation said:

“Cheshire West & Chester Council and its partners are supporting residents to find work, understanding that people who are looking for work often face health conditions and other barriers. These three projects will help people develop skills, confidence and strategies, empowering people to find and sustain work.

“Through these projects, the Council is working to include more of our residents in the varied and healthy Cheshire West local economy, and to share the benefits of it.”

For more information on the projects, please email:

skillsandemployment@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

More information can also be found on the Council website:

Skills and employment | Cheshire West and Chester Council