Connecting People to Opportunities - 26/01/2010

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA), Glasgow Works and the city’s five Local Regeneration Agencies have set up a new partnership to support unemployed people re-entering the job market.

Under the new ‘Connecting People to Opportunities’, GHA’s housing officers will be encouraged to refer unemployed tenants to the support services that are available from Glasgow Works and the Local Regeneration Agencies. 85% of working age GHA tenants are not in work, and the housing officers will be given training to help them discuss with tenants their barriers to employment and how the extra support available could help them overcome these.

The partners have worked together to develop and put in place the new city-wide approach that could see many more GHA tenants access the services on offer through the Glasgow Works funded Employability Programme and the Local Regeneration Agencies.

The tenants referred will potentially benefit from advice, information, training, volunteering and work placements tailored to their needs and circumstances.

Glasgow City Council Leader Steven Purcell has welcomed the scheme. He said: “In Glasgow we have a strong partnership approach to tackling long-term unemployment and this new scheme is an excellent example of how an organisation that traditionally deals with housing can expand their remit and link with other agencies to provide a more valuable service to their tenants.

“This will also benefit Local Regeneration Agencies, for whom getting initial contact with prospective clients can often be problematic."

GHA Chief Executive Martin Armstrong said: “Too many of our tenants face barriers to getting and sustaining a job. We have a key role to play in assisting tenants to get the right advice and support to tackle those barriers and this new partnership will help us to do that. Supporting our tenants to move towards employment is just one example of how, by working closely with the city council and other agencies, we can help improve the lives of residents in Glasgow.”