Changes to New Deal 18 to 24 and New Deal 25+

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced a number of measures to Jobcentre Plus, which give them greater flexibility and discretion to enable them to increase their effectiveness in moving people quickly into work.

Two of these measures relate specifically to New Deal programmes and are due to be implemented from April 2004. These are:

• early entry onto New Deal for learners who meet at least one of nine eligibility criteria that entitle them to join the programme without having been previously unemployed for six months; and
  
• adopting a more flexible approach to the length and design of the options within New Deal for young people, with the minimum duration of the options reduced from 26 weeks to 13 weeks.

The new flexible approach to the New Deal programmes allows New Deal Advisers the scope to 'mix and match' between options to tailor provision to the needs of individual customers.

( For further information contact Ejaz Sarwar at Derby CVS on 01332 227723 or email esarwar@cvsderby.co.uk

(from Network News, Mar/Apr 2004)