The ongoing cost of living crisis is making it harder for people to find extra money to pay for essentials, even more so for millions of households reliant on benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, many claimants may not be aware of a fund operated by the Jobcentre which could help them learn to drive.
The Flexible Support Fund could help provide people looking for work with free driving lessons, if it would help them secure employment. Many advertised jobs stipulate that a driving licence is required for the role and for those that are willing, but unqualified, it can be a major barrier to coming off benefits.
DWP Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP, recently explained in a written response to Conservative MP Ben Bradley: “Service Leaders in Jobcentres can allocate funding for driving lessons through the Flexible Support Fund, where they feel this is an appropriate use of funds. Each request is considered on a case-by-case basis.”
He added: “No specific assessment has been made of the potential merits of allocating specific funding for driving lessons.”
Mr Opperman recently announced that a network consisting of dozens of 50 PLUS Champions tasked with helping people over 50 back into work are now in place across Scotland, England and Wales.
He said that each area has specialised, local staff dedicated to helping over 50’s back into work. They are working directly with Jobcentres and employers to remove any barriers that are keeping older workers out of the jobs market.
The 50 PLUS Champions will assist Work Coaches to change employer attitudes about hiring over 50s as well as matching jobseekers with opportunities that suit their skills.
The DWP is also supporting older jobseekers, with the introduction of the Jobcentre Mid-Life MOT service which supports people to take stock and make plans for their work, wealth and well-being into the future.
Jobcentres deliver a specialised offer for those 50 and over, identifying and overcoming obstacles holding them back from the labour market. Support includes modernising CVs or developing new skills through specialist programmes with new employers and a new approach.
There are also individual businesses which partner up with Jobcentres to create sector-based work academies.
These SWAPs last up to six weeks and offer pre-employment training, work experience with an employer in the industry and, at the end of the programme, an opportunity to apply for a job interview in the sector or seek help with the application process.
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