§ Mr. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps the South Sefton Partnership have taken to improve access to(a) job and training opportunities and (b) affordable childcare. [128878]
§ Yvette CooperThis is one of South Sefton Partnership's four key objectives. The Partnership has recently prepared a small booklet "South Sefton Partnership—The Story So Far" which aims to illustrate steps taken to date on these four key objectives.
744WThe steps taken in respect of this objective are as follows:
Establishing an Intermediate Labour Market scheme to act as a 'bridge' back to work for long-term unemployed residents.Developing the Sefton@Work project which will help unemployed South Sefton residents gain access to jobs and training through advice, guidance and placement services and encouraging local firms to recruit local people.Improving educational opportunities for South Sefton residents through an adult community learning programme in local schools.Helping 12 local people to find work as teacher's assistants within South Sefton Education Action Zone schools.Supporting the Bootle-based Independence Initiative which helps ex-substance abusers to access training and work.Funding the Seaforth Older Children's Service (SOCS) which provides childcare in school holidays allowing local people to retain jobs that might otherwise be at risk.Providing laptop computers for looked-after children in the area to help to improve their hitherto below-average levels of success in GCSE exams.Supporting Sefton council's IMPACT project which provides vocational experiences for pupils who find traditional school subjects are not for them.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what steps have been taken by the South Sefton Partnership to create safe, healthy, and managed neighbourhoods. [128879]
§ Yvette CooperThis is one of South Sefton Partnership's four key objectives. The Partnership has recently prepared a small booklet "South Sefton Partnership—The Story So Far" which aims to illustrate steps taken to date on these four key objectives.
The steps taken in respect of this objective are as follows:
Establishing the Green It Clean It Mean It environment fund which provided each Neighbourhood Action Group with 10,000 to undertake local 'green' improvements.Supporting the new-build premises of the successful Feelgood Factory health initiative which will provide advice on healthy living, training courses, alternative therapies and a crèche.Employing an Active Communities Co-ordinator to give South Sefton residents improved access to sports opportunities.Funding a new mobile police station for the area to improve relationships with local communities, provide a more visible police presence. A new community safety officer post has been created.Funding an Environmental Hit Squad in the Linacre/Derby area to improve the physical appearance and cleanliness of the neighbourhood and look at ways to reduce the rat population.Working with Sefton Council Housing Market Renewal on a £500,000 alleygating initiative to improve the local environment and reduce crime in terraced street across South Sefton.Creating the post of a Co-ordinator to work with the Neighbourhood Action Groups on developing and implementing community safety projects.Funding important feasibility studies into the restoration of Bootle Derby Park and upgrading the local stretch of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.