17.05.04
Cornwall Action Team for Jobs Partnership Awards

Jobcentre Plus has been celebrating the success of Cornwall Action Team for Jobs (CAT) with a Partnership Awards event which took place at the Penventon Hotel at Redruth on Friday 14th May. The theme was "Celebrating Success and Delivering for the Future".

Cornwall Action Team for Jobs was launched in October 2000, one of just 65 Action Teams nationwide. Their challenge is to support people who are furthest from the labour market into sustainable employment. And their success in doing so is certainly worthy of celebration. Since October 2000 CAT has helped over 1600 people into work.

Michelle Maslen, Cornwall Jobcentre Plus District Manager said, "Cornwall Action Team has the additional challenge of working in a rural area. But the team has been hugely successful, in fact the best performing Action Team in the country. The key to our success has been close partnership working with all sectors to develop pathways to employment opportunities that are tailored to individual need. This event has given us the opportunity to recognise everyone who has contributed to the success of the CAT, particularly the customers who have accessed our support.

She added, "The Objective One Partnership Office has been a great source of support to Jobcentre Plus in integrating the welfare to work agenda into the Objective One Programme. Their investment has given us the opportunity to build on the success of CAT, to broaden delivery and support more individuals and groups."

Cornwall Action Team Manager Andy Brelsford adds, " Cornwall Action Team is now moving into its third and final stage with funding secured until March 2006. We now have some new target areas with projects in Porthtowan/ St Agnes due to be launched in June. We are also working with partners to develop Action Team projects in Newquay and Torpoint later this year."

Another reason to celebrate is the way that CAT has used its own funding and investment from Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly's Objective One Programme to expand delivery and fund other organisations to deliver projects under the Pathways to Employment umbrella.

Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Objective One Partnership for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly said: "Developing our people is developing our future. Jobcentre Plus and the Cornwall Action Team for Jobs are essential partners working with the Objective One Programme in providing innovative ways to enable people who are disadvantaged in the labour market move into work or training. The people-centred approach of Jobcentre Plus is fundamental to their success."

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Editor's notes:

30 individuals and organisations received awards on the day including:

• Cornwall County Council

• Cornwall Centre for Volunteers

• Gwellheans

• Happy Days Nurseries

• Choughs Café

• Objective One Partnership Office

• Prolific Offenders Unit

• Pukka Plants

• Carn Brea Leisure Centre

• Rudrum and Sons

• Cornwall Outdoors

• Cornwall One Parent Support

• Individual Action Team customers and advisers

For more information please contact Sue Kessell on 01872 35 4147.

Press office: 0117 945 6681/6685
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

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Sue Wolstenholme
Objective One Communications
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mob: 07973 813647
Tel: 01579 370991

lmroberts@cornwall.gov.uk

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