The Future Jobs Fund programme was established in 2009 by the Department for Work and Pensions to create employment opportunities for long term unemployed young people and others facing significant disadvantage in the labour market.  Local authorities and partnership organisations were invited to submit bids to create a minimum of 30 jobs, offering a wage for 26 weeks, the chance to develop new skills, attend training, gain qualifications and significantly increase the employees’ prospects of finding permanent employment.

In 2009, Rhyl City Strategy worked with a network of over thirty local employers in Conwy and Denbighshire to create 322 jobs, and submitted a successful bid to DWP to fund a local Future Jobs Fund scheme.  Employers included North Wales Probation Service, Rhyl High School, Rhyl Football in the Community, Communities First, Denbighshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council, Rhyl Youth Action Group, Scala Cinema & Arts Centre, Denbighshire Enterprise Agency, Clwyd Coast Credit Union, Coleg Llandrillo and Careers Wales. Participating employers provide training and support for their Future Jobs Fund employees, as well as helping them to look for permanent employment once their Future Jobs Fund job has come to an end.

By the time DWP closed the Future Jobs Fund programme down in 2011, Rhyl City Strategy had succeeded in filling all 322 of its job opportunities.   The participants were able to gain a broad range of skills, confidence and self esteem, improved CVs, good references, and the motivation to secure long term employment.  In addition, over half of our participants progressed into permanent employment at the end of the six month subsidised period, either with their Future Jobs employer or with another employer.

Examples of jobs created by the Rhyl City Strategy Future Jobs Fund include:

Youth Cafe Worker; Assistant Caretaker; Child Care Assistant; General Clerk; Community Cohesion Officer; Conservation Worker; Creative Arts Technician; Finance & Funding Assistant; Trainee Student Mentor; Receptionist; Graphic Designer; Tourist Information Officer; Groundsman; Handyman; Learning Resource Assistant; Administrative Assistant; Horticultural Nursery Operative; Catering Assistant; Building Maintenance Operative; Hardware Engineer; Joinery Assistant; Art and Design Support officer; Kids Fun Clun Development Worker; Pastry Chef; Project Development Officer; Construction Worker; Retail Assistant; Trainee Countryside Warden; Youth/ Community Worker;

In 2010, we worked with TAPE Community Music and Film to create a 10-minute DVD showcasing our Future Jobs Fund programme, featuring interviews with a number of Future Jobs employees and their employers, and describing the benefits of the programme . The DVD was premiered in October 2010 at the Scala Cinema, Prestatyn, where Welsh Assembly Minister Leighton Andrews AM addressed an invited audience and spoke with the young people about their experiences on the programme.

Rhyl City Stratey’s Future Jobs Fund programme was delivered in close partnership with JCP, with Denbighshire Community Agency providing support with CV writing and job-search.

Case Studies

Lloyd – Administrative Assistant, BTCV

Lloyd , 22 was unemployed for over 6 months and had given up hope when applying for jobs and hearing no response. His confidence took a big knock and he was starting to believe he would never find work again until he gained help through the Future Jobs Fund to obtain work as an administrative assistant for BTCV. Lloyd supported the administration team at the BTCV office in Rhyl but also worked part time for BTCV’s partners Denbighshire Countryside Services at the Brickfield Pond Centre in Rhyl.

After 6 months of working for BTCV and Denbighshire Countryside Services,  Lloyd has gained the experience needed for working in the industry and from this obtained a permanent job working for Rhyl City Strategy as an administrator. He is elated and his confidence is now reaching new levels.

Tina Jones of BTCV said “Future Jobs Fund has been a fantastic opportunity for young people in the area who would otherwise have found it very difficult to progress into employment.  Lloyd did not have the experience for administration and was therefore overlooked by prospective employers when applying for jobs – but the funding that FJF provides has enabled BTCV, in partnership with Denbighshire Countryside Service, and many other employers in the area,   to provide valuable training, qualifications and experience that has enabled these young people to gain sustainable employment and change their lives for the better. I am very pleased to have been a part of the Partnership with Rhyl City Strategy and hope that the Future Jobs Scheme can continue.”

Lee – Administrative Assistant, G.Purchase Construction Ltd.

Lee (22) graduated from University with a degree in Bio-Medical Science. He has since been unemployed; his job with G.Purchase Construction Ltd through the Rhyl City Strategy Future Jobs Fund has been his first experience of work.

Lee : “Due to being in continued education, after leaving university I had no current work experience. Since being employed by G.Purchase Construction Ltd. I have built up a wealth of experience and am able to show my true potential. The job is extremely varied and new challenges arise regularly.”

Terry Phipps, Client Services Manager, G.Purchase Construction Ltd said: “Lee has been a real asset to our company and has developed as a person during his time with us. The FJF has allowed him to make the transition from student life to life in the ‘outside world’ by enabling him to develop his social skills and to become a team member. This will, no doubt, stand him in good stead in the future.”

Jordan – Centre Assistant – Tree Top Adventure

Jordan (20) recently moved from Manchester to North Wales.  In Manchester he was a volunteer teaching football to children aged 6-18yrs.  

Jordan: “Since being employed by Tree Top Adventure I have found that my people skills have increased and I feel more at ease with the public.  Tree Top Adventure have given me great opportunities to further develop my personal skills and gain National Governing Body Awards that will enable me to further my career.” 

Tree Top Adventure: “Jordan has fitted right in at Tree Top Adventure, he is a very confident young man and is growing more and more every day.  His efforts and commitment to the job are admirable.  Jordan is both friendly and thoughtful when dealing with the public and we are currently receiving a large amount of positive feedback about Jordan. Jordan has become a valued member of staff and we hope that Jordan keeps growing here at Tree Tops Adventure”