Active Lancashire receives £5m to reach 4,000 unemployed

Active Lancashire has received £4.75m funding from the European Social Fund to launch a new programme aimed at help 4,000 residents back into work.

More Positive Together Steps, which launches in January 2022 and will run for two years, follows on from the successful More Positive Together, which finishes this December after engaging with thousands of residents deemed to be furthest from the employment market.

MPT Steps will provide tailored one-to-one mentoring support to residents living in Lancashire, with the opportunity to engage in a range of activities which will help improve overall health and wellbeing. A new additional focus for this project lies in supporting those who may have only recently become unemployed due to the pandemic.

The existing MPT delivery partners will work together again on the new MPT Steps project and provide match funding, with the support of a number of new partners including include Lancashire Women, Positive Action in the Community (PAC) and Inspire Youth Zone who will help increase skills, insight and reach across the county.

Darren Wright, operations manager for the MPT Steps project, said: "The MPT Steps project really builds on and extends the strong partnership that has been developed delivering the original More Positive Together Project since 2017. We know the pandemic has had a huge effect on the people of Lancashire but I feel hopeful that this project will provide further reassurance that high quality support is available for getting people back into work."

• For further Lancashire business news, advice and analysis subscribe to Lancashire Business View or join the LBV Hub from just £2.50 per month. Click here to subscribe now.