Kickstart scheme to help Preston’s young people into paid work placements

Clayton has benefited from the placement scheme. Pic: CGA

In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a £2 billion ‘Kickstart’ scheme to fund hundreds of thousands of six-month paid work placements.

These placements are for young people aged 16 to 24 who are receiving Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

Since then, Community Gateway Association – Preston’s largest social housing association – has been working with other housing organisations nationwide to implement the scheme, in which the Government will pay 100 per cent national minimum wage for the duration of the placement.

Led by Clarion Housing Group, the consortium has formed the Kickstart Housing Partnership creating 800 new job placements in the housing sector.

By the end of the programme, they hope to deliver more than 1,000 placements, making a real difference to young people nationwide.

Claire Smith, Head of Culture and Engagement at CGA, said: “Gateway is proud of its record of supporting people into work and I am delighted we will be giving opportunities to local young people to gain skills and perhaps begin a lifelong career in housing.”

Community Gateway is offering a total of nine placements in a variety of roles including Grounds Maintenance, Administration, Estates Services and Community Engagement.

The CGA Employability team will offer practical support to all applicants and there will be further in-work training and mentoring throughout the placement.

If you meet the criteria and want to find out more, email the team at peopleservices@communitygateway.co.uk or call 0800 953 0213.

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