Future Jobs Fund was announced in the 2009 Budget and the money is to be spent between October 2009 and March 2011.  As the Future Jobs Fund is a challenge fund, not all organisations that submit bids will be successful. The fund is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) and with input from Jobcentre Plus Regional Government Offices in England and Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales.

The Fund aims to create 150,000 additional jobs, primarily aimed at 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for nearly a year to deliver real benefits to communities. The Future Jobs Fund is a part of the Young Person’s Guarantee. From early 2010, everyone in between the ages of 18 and 24 who has been looking for work for a year will get an offer of a job, work experience, or training lasting at least 6 months.

Within Carmarthenshire, we are aiming to create 291 jobs over a period of 18 months.  The jobs cover vocational areas such as retail, administration, information technology, environmental and community work.

All of the vacancies are either within the Carmarthenshire County Council or the third sector.  The jobs last for a minimum of 6 months, during which time participants will receive a tailored package of guidance and support from their employer and specialised staff with the aim of making the job sustainable beyond the initial 6 months.