Century milestone for In2Work

A borough-wide project aimed at helping people back in to work and off sickness-related benefits - through health support and access to counselling - has recently assisted its hundredth person into employment.

In2Work – run by the council together with JobcentrePlus and Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust – launched last year and provides support to with everything from training and qualifications to confidence.

The programme is open to anyone in receipt of incapacity benefit, but also provides advice and guidance to other people on benefits about the other services available to them.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “Since the In2Work project started we’ve helped more than one person a week on average to get off benefits and into employment. The project helps people increase their independence, aspiration and confidence, and improve their health and well-being so that they can get back to work. Being in work then helps to further those qualities and we generally see people’s health improve even more too.”

The project launched in January 2007 and, to date, 296 people have completed first step training. 39 people have also achieved a qualification.

A total of 105 people have now found full time employment through In2Work, and a further 16 people are working under the supported permitted work rule (where you can work part time and earn up to a set amount while still being entitled to benefits). 32 people have got involved in voluntary work as a result of the project, and a further 6 are on work experience placements.

In2Work has outreach bases on Kirkholt and Langley and takes part in a weekly drop-in session in Lower Falinge. Regular door-knocking initiatives take place too in areas where there is a higher than average concentration of people claiming sickness-related benefits.