The Solent Jobs Programme aimed to provide employment related support to at least 1,200 long term workless adults with disabilities and health conditions across the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership area. People in a range of different benefit groups were eligible for support, alongside lone parents.
As well as supporting participants into work, it was intended to improve participants’ wellbeing and their self-efficacy where possible. The programme comprised:
Overall, 1153 people registered to take part. Participants experienced a range of barriers to employment, which often interacted with one another. This included long-term unemployment, a lack of qualifications, multiple health conditions and living in a workless household.
94 per cent of referrals were from Jobcentre Plus.
A mixed method evaluation was used, which was part of the Southampton and Portsmouth City Deal agreement with national government. It was funded by the European Social Fund and City Deal/local matched funds.