HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

In 2006, Rhyl was successful in its bid to be included as one of fifteen areas in the Department for Work and Pensions “Cities Strategy” programme, which aims to tackle unemployment and economic inactivity in the most disadvantaged areas of the UK. The strategy is testing:

• how best to combine the work of government agencies, local government and the private and voluntary sectors in a concerted local partnership (consortium) – to provide the support jobless people need to find and progress in work
• whether local partners can deliver more if they combine and align their efforts behind shared priorities, and are given more freedom to try out new ideas and to tailor services in response to local need.

The seaside town of Rhyl experiences high levels of unemployment compared with the UK and Wales average.   Many people have low or no qualifications or skills needed to take up work opportunities, or have other problems that impact on their ability to work, such as poor housing or health conditions.

Rhyl City Strategy brings together key stakeholders from the business, statutory and voluntary sectors in an active local partnership to tackle the issue of local unemployment through the more effective coordination of services, the pooling of resources, and through innovation and fresh thinking.  The Strategy seeks to put employability high on the local agenda, ensuring that resources are focussed on Rhyl, that any planned developments take local employment issues into account, and brokering new opportunities.  We will

• make sure Rhyl residents are receiving the support, guidance and training they need to get into and stay in work 
• make sure residents can overcome any barriers preventing them from starting or getting back to work.    
• work with employers to make sure their business needs are being met, and that local unemployed people are able to access work opportunities
• develop cross-cutting initiatives to meet identified needs

In 2008, the Rhyl City Strategy Executive Board formed a Community Interest Company to take care of its governance, allowing it greater freedom to respond and innovate.  This move was actively supported by DWP, and was heralded as an innovative approach. The not-for-profit Company was incorporated by Companies House on 9th April 2008 and employs the project staff.

DWP funded all 15 pathfinders in the Cities Strategy programme until March 2011, when the programme was formally closed down.  As an independent Community Interest Company, Rhyl City  Strategy opted to continue its own programme of activity beyond 2011, with its aims and objectives remaining in line with the original ethos of the programme.  The core team is currently funded until March 2013.