London Councils, the body which represents the capital’s local authorities, is to make an additional £70,000 of funding available to help Londoners return to work.
London Councils’ Grants Committee, which annually awards more than £8m in funding to more than 300 groups across the capital, has agreed to match £70,000 of European Social Fund (ESF) money to help individuals back into employment and training during the recession.
Tenders to provide services funded by the grant will be invited later in the year with services expected to commence from April 2010.
Councillor Lynne Hillan, who was re-elected chairman of the Grants Committee at its annual general meeting on Wednesday, said: “Combating unemployment is the first step in improving the lives of many individuals and will have a positive impact on the economy and society as a whole. This extra £140,000 will provide a much needed boost to help more people in the capital get back to work.”