WIRRAL'S thousands of job hunters have been handed an unexpected boost by a £1m lottery-funded scheme.

Figures released earlier this month showed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Wirral had dropped to 2,399.

Regeneration programme The Big Local is hoping to further reduce those figures by working with Wirral-based charity Involve Northwest, to provide job support and advice on the doorstep of every house in Beechwood, Ballantyne and Bidston Village.

The £10,000 funding will also help provide skills training in addition to Involve Northwest’s weekly job club at Beechwood Library, currently delivered under the ReachOut Project.

Big Local programme manager Karl Rooney said: “The community has told us that they want help and support in getting into sustainable employment as a top priority. 

“The Big Local Partnership is committed to breaking down any barriers to employment and residents will now have a unique opportunity to access advice and skills; including training funding for things like SIA security badges, criminal record (DBS) checks and forklift truck training to help residents find a job that’s right for them.”

Involve Northwest’s deputy chief executive Lia Robinson added: “We are delighted to be supporting the Big Local programme. 

“The fact that there is additional support to residents living in these three areas to secure meaningful work will make, in our experience, a huge difference to them not only financially but to their overall self-esteem, health and wellbeing.

“The ReachOut Partnership has been providing information, advice and guidance to residents across Wirral for the past nine years, enabling and supporting them to taking their first steps back into employment, especially after time away from the job market.”

Bidston and St James councillor Brian Kenny said: “I am delighted to be part of such a focused community initiative that aims to help those that want to work, get back to work. I very much welcome this positive, partnership resident-led approach.”

Big Local is a national scheme launched in 2010 using more than £200m in funding from the Big Lottery Fund, and targets 150 urban and rural communities. Last year, Beechwood, Ballantyne and Bidston Village became Wirral’s first area to benefit from the funding.