People facing barriers to employment will benefit from over £9.5 million to help them get the skills they need to secure well-paid work.
Fresh from her re-election as the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin has announced the £10 million package to “make life easier for those who find it the hardest.”
This funding will help those struggling to secure good jobs because of their age, health condition, disability, or difficult personal circumstances.
It follows a high-profile election pledge to build a “region of learning and creativity” for all, where everyone in the region is spurred on to follow their passions in life, and lifted up to reach their full potential.
Those set to benefit from six new projects include single parents, people with low digital skills, people who have faced discrimination because of their ethnicity, and people with criminal convictions.
Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, said: “There are too many people at a disadvantage when it comes to finding and keeping work, so I’m delighted to get these new initiatives off the ground as part of our focus on a region of learning.
“I want everyone in West Yorkshire to have the skills and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their personal circumstances.
“Providing tailored support for people to smash down the barriers they face will help us to grow our economy and build a stronger, brighter West Yorkshire that works for all.”
Part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the six new initiatives aim to reduce inequalities, raise living standards, and grow the economy, while boosting confidence, skills and knowledge throughout the communities of West Yorkshire.