£4.3 million to help older people in Wales return to work

A £4.3 million funding package to help people aged over 50 in Wales return to training and work has been announced as new figures reveal that more older workers are suffering long term unemployment.

The number of jobless older workers in the UK has increased by more than 50 per cent in a year to the highest figure in a decade. A total of 170,000 job-seekers over 50 have been out of work for at least 12 months, according to research for the charity Age UK.

The 170,000 older workers who are long-term unemployed account for some 21.6 per cent of the total for all age groups of 787,000.

In a bid to help older workers in Wales, which has the highest percentage of people aged over the 50 in the UK, the Big Lottery Fund has made £4.3 million available to help re-engage them in education, learning, volunteering and employment.

Of the job seekers over 50 who are out of work in the UK, some 43.7 per cent have not had a job for more than a year. Only 35.1 per cent of the unemployed aged 25-49 have not had a job for more than a year, while the figure for those aged 18-24 is even lower, at 26.6 per cent.

The £4.3 million from the Big Lottery Fund will be awarded through the £14 million Life Skills project - a funding stream, which matches the Lottery money with support from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.

Until September 16, 2010, groups in Wales that help people aged over 50 who face multiple barriers improve their Life Skills and increase their confidence by re-engaging them in education, learning, volunteering and employment, can bid for a share of £4.3 million. Applications for the rest of the money, nearly £1 million, can be made between August 25 and October 1.

Ceri Doyle, Big Lottery Fund Director for Wales, said: "Older workers have a wealth of talent and experience which will aid economic recovery.

"The money made available this week will show that age should not be a barrier and help ensure these vital skills are not lost."

Graeme Francis, Head of Policy at Age Cymru, added: "We welcome the Big Lottery Fund’s announcement that it is making funding available in Wales to help address this vital issue. The new figures demonstrate the difficulty faced by many older workers seeking new employment.

"We must change the current situation where it is disproportionately difficult for people in their 50s and 60s to find new work if we are to avoid a devastating legacy of unemployment and poverty among people in later life. As a society we must lay the foundations of a better job market for older people, with fairness and flexibility as cornerstones, and targeted support to help older people retrain and learn new skills."

Some £9.5 million has already been awarded through the Life Skills project to boost opportunities for carers, care leavers and economically inactive families in Wales.

For more information about how to apply or for information about other funding streams delivered by the Big Lottery Fund visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/wales or phone the BIG advice line on 01686 611700. (text phone 0845 602 1659)