European Social Fund boosts employment and skills

More than two million people in the UK seeking to improve their skills and job prospects have been helped by the European Social Fund (ESF), says Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt.

The Minister told the ESF Conference, held as part of the UK Presidency of the EU, that the fund had supported a range of life-changing projects - many of which are helping people go on to find a job.

Mr Plaskitt, the Minister responsible for ESF in the UK, said: "Since 2000, ESF has helped 2.2 million people in the UK.

"Vulnerable people in our most deprived communities have been given new opportunities thanks to ESF funding delivered in partnership with the public, private and voluntary sectors.

"More people now have basic skills and qualifications, and more people are moving towards employment or are in jobs. We believe that work is the best route out of poverty and dependence.

"However, this conference is not just about celebrating the achievements of ESF. We must look forward, learn from our achievements, and prepare for future challenges."

The conference was shown a film highlighting success stories, including Jo Maeva, who was unemployed and wanted to train as a carpenter.

She is now setting her sights on building sets for film and television after she learned new skills at Lambeth Women's Workshop which has benefited from ESF money.

She has an NVQ Level 1 in Wood Occupations and went on to complete Level 2 at Mid-Kent College in Maidstone.

Ms Maeva, 29, from Bromley in Kent, said: "Being unemployed is just mind-numbing. I needed to get myself a trade. Lambeth Women's Workshop took me in and gave me free training to get where I wanted.

"Recently, I have been using my carpentry skills building sets for photo-shoots and exhibitions, which I'm really enjoying.

"I aim to use that as a stepping-stone to working full-time on film sets and TV shoots." 

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