Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced the launch of a new seven-year, £680m European Social Fund (ESF) programme to support projects to help Londoners find employment, provide new skills for disadvantaged young people and to help tackle exclusion and reduce crime and violence.
The new programme, funded by the European Commission with matching funds from the Learning and Skills Council, the Department for Work and Pensions, the London Development Agency, and London Councils, is to be administered by the London Development Agency under direction from Mayor Johnson.
Johnson said he welcomed the funding “through which some of the issues facing London’s poorest citizens will be addressed.”
“We will make the most of the opportunities the new programme provides to get more Londoners into sustainable jobs. This includes addressing the needs of our youth, especially those at risk of offending or who require a second chance to turn their life around.’
The funds have also been welcomed by James Plaskitt, Minister with responsibility for the ESF at the Department for Work and Pensions. Mr Plaskitt said the priority was to “support those who, despite record employment levels, remain out of work, giving people new life-changing opportunities.”
