(i)

homelessness and unemployment were strongly linked to rates of unemployment; figures were very high among single homeless, young homeless people and homeless families;

(ii)

many people who experienced homelessness or who were rough sleepers had low levels of qualifications, and many had none at all; many homeless people also had a history of offending, mental health issues, substance abuse and domestic violence which resulted in multiple barriers to get into the workplace;

(iii)

Plymouth Sustainable Employment Programme (PSET) was a unique pilot project funded by the CLG (Communities and Local Government Department) in order to explore how to support entrenched rough sleepers and homeless people in hostels to access training and employment;

(iv)

PSET provided greater opportunities to reach challenges in the labour market; this initiative was run by the Shekinah Mission to support homeless people back into employment;

(v)

PSET enabled skilled workers to engage with 12 hard to reach individuals in Plymouth and move them into sustainable employment;

(vi)

PSET provided an inclusive programme for people excluded from mainstream society and employment;

(vii)

pre employment training was included in the PSET programme and was integral to an individual’s personal development as it provided help with literacy and numeracy and allowed individuals to become more stable before going into employment;

(viii)

Shekinah trading had a model of engagement in which work experience was provided for two weeks to individuals to help them move into employment;

(ix)

the PSET pilot programme was due to finish in February 2010;

(x)

the PSET pilot programme was highlighted as being a flagship for employability;

(xi)

every homeless person out of work amounted to an annual sum of £7,758 in welfare benefit payments, £1,341 in income tax and national insurance payments and £12,000 in lost economic output; it was also estimated that if factors such as temporary accommodation, unemployment, and the cost of health services, criminal justice services and support were taken into account the annual cost to taxpayers of each homeless person could be as much as £50,000;

(xii)

the financial inclusion unit had received an award for ‘Best Practice’ nationally and was nominated as ‘Council Partner of the Year’ due to its work with money advice services;

(xiii)

the financial inclusion unit had formed a questionnaire in order to determine the barriers to unemployed individuals; the results showed childcare, low wages and debt were the 3 main factors;

(xiv)

tax credits were a great way to supplement low wages as in some cases it could double an individual’s income;

(xv)

it was important for a lead to be identified for the issue of worklessness so that a coordinated approach could be maintained;

(xvi)

Plymouth City Council was a popular local employer as evidence showed that people in the local area wanted to work for the Council;

(xvii)

Plymouth City Council demonstrated best practice in encouraging people from all sectors of the community to apply for vacancies;

(xviii)

4.23% of all staff at the Council were from an ethnic minority group;

(xix)

Plymouth City Council had 20% of the population aged 18 to 29 and 19.75% of the working population under the age of 31;

(xx)

the Council currently had the following general initiatives, New Deal, Local Employer Partnership (LEP), Staff Learning and Development and

Plymouth Adult and Community Learning Service;

(xxi)

Plymouth City Council offered a ‘Guaranteed Job Interview’ for applicants self-assessed as having a disability who also met the short listing criteria;

(xxii)

the Council were offering work experience for people with learning difficulties;

(xxiii)

it would cost approximately £1000 per person in order to support the PSET programme; these funds would provide pre employment training and on going support whilst in employment;

(xxiv)

the PSET pilot programme received great support from the following council departments, Customers Services, Car parks and Maintenance;

(xxv)

the PSET pilot programme required additional funding in order to continue its work;

(xxvi)

£50,000 was required in order to allow the programme to continue for another year;

(xxvii)

the PSET programme looked at early intervention in order to put processes and mechanisms in place to help with potential problems with rent, bills and transportation;

(xxviii)

the average wage in Plymouth was £23,000;