This document discusses worklessness in Leicestershire and the role of the voluntary and community sector in addressing it. Over 10,000 people in Leicestershire claim jobseeker's allowance. The voluntary sector contributes to reducing worklessness through 356 organizations that provide employability and skills training. Developing better collaboration between sectors and increasing volunteering opportunities could help more people gain work experience and reduce worklessness in the county.

1. Worklessness and the
Voluntary and Community
Sector in Leicestershire
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

2. Leicestershire Strategic Priorities
VAL working with Leicestershire County Council to involve the Voluntary
and Community Sector in addressing priorities identified by LtP:
Worklessness and Economic Growth
Supporting Leicestershire families
Health
Vulnerability and Mental Health
Older People
Communities in Charge
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

3. The problem in Leicestershire
10,665 (2.6%) individuals claiming Job Seekers Allowance
Increased by0.6% since 2011
Youth unemployment accounts for 31% of JSA claimants
Rural isolation, transport and access to provision and worklpaces
There are a number of work programme initiatives currently in place but
a lack of a joined up approach to tackling geographical areas affected
by worklessness is having an impact on the local community.
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

4. What is the VCS contribution to addressing
worklessness?
356 Voluntary and Community Organisations working to address this
issue in Leicestershire, 138 based in county districts
VCS strengths in engaging those furthest from the labour market and
providing innovative and supportive services
Wide range of employability and skills provision
Volunteering can be a crucial step back towards the labour market and
a way of gaining experience
The VCS as an economic asset – ability to create jobs and lever in
funding
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

5. Economic contribution of the VCS in Leicestershire
Other Public
funding funding
£68.4m £36.7m
Expenditure
£102.1m
Public
Investment
With Multiplied
multiplier between 5 and
Volunteer time (x1.11) 7 times
Between £113.3m
£76.4m and
£161.7m
Total value
between
£189.8m and
£275.1m
Source: NEF 2002
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

6. Worklessness & Economic Growth: Project outcomes
A better shared understanding of worklessness in Leicestershire
A clearer understanding of who the key agencies are and what services
they deliver in all sectors
A more collaborative cross-sector response to worklessness, enabling
better service user experience/outcomes
An increase in the value of resources levered in from outside
Leicestershire to address worklessness
Increase in number of people volunteering who are able to them use
their experience to get employment
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

7. Key Activities
Develop better shared understanding of this issue in Leicestershire
Map VCOs that deliver services to reduce worklessness plus provision and
jobs created in the local VCS
Support development of local volunteering opportunities
Influence commissioners to include local job creation in service design and
to use local service providers
Develop collaborative partnerships to bid for funding to deliver programmes
of support to reduce worklessness
Liaise with Work Programme prime contractors to open up partnership
working opportunities for the VCS
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”

8. Simon Jenner
Group Support Manager
Voluntary Action LeicesterShire
simon.j@valonline.org.uk
Voluntary Action Leicestershire “Helping people change their lives for the better”