A community-based employment project in Stockton-on-Tees has helped 270 people into work, with caseworkers providing tailored support and financial assistance. The JobsPlus scheme, one of ten pilots across England, covers the Primrose Hill and Newtown estates in Teesside, an area hit by deindustrialisation.
The project is modelled on a US initiative that began in 1998, with long-term analysis showing positive impacts on earnings and employment across generations. Key features of the hyperlocal approach include saturating a small area with employment support, direct financial incentives, and involving local community champions.
Bryan Stokell, a 47-year-old father, found work as a full-time security guard with help from caseworker Khialah Wilson after struggling with health problems. “They have a lot of contacts, they can open doors into places,” he said, adding that he now encourages neighbours to enrol.
Sixty-three-year-old Yaw Botwe was spending £15 a day on transport to work, until JobsPlus connected him with a closer job at Morrisons and bought him a bicycle. “This is the first time in my life I’ve got a job that my heart liked,” he said.
Nineteen-year-old Megan Steel, who had studied childcare but wanted a different career, received intensive help with her CV and applications. Her caseworker, Jade Green, even provided a voucher for new clothes ahead of an interview at a local casino. “It’s helped me a lot,” said Steel, who secured the job.
Caseworkers maintain contact with clients even after they find work, offering ongoing moral support. The community-driven nature of the scheme reflects research that boosting local social capital is beneficial for economic growth. With UK unemployment at a four-year high of 5.1%, proponents argue that place-based initiatives like JobsPlus could be part of the solution.
