Agenda item

To receive the report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Board noted the report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services setting out the outcomes and impacts of the City of London’s Connecting Communities programme that ran between 1 January 2022 and 30 September 2023, noting also its recommendations.

In response to a question on what were the key outcomes, the meeting noted that the project had been difficult to run from a standing start in a short period of time, and that some lives were significantly positively impacted.  The meeting also noted that many already-working people in poorly paid jobs needed support, as well as those not in employment that tended to be targeted by Government initiatives.

The meeting heard from one of the programme’s beneficiaries Mohammad Hussain Mobarez who thanked the Board for their support of the programme in helping him into his job as constable at the City of London.

The Board noted the correction to the final paragraph of the report circulated to Members before the meeting, to read as follows:

Some final measures

By end August 2023, the City of London Connecting Communities programme had supported 186 participants (56% of target) aged 25 and over, and 139 aged 18-24 (NEET) (87% of target) in addition 92 participants had secured employment (plus 1 self-employment).

Of those who had gained employment by 31 March 2023, 72% were still in employment at 30 September, exceeding the target sustainment rate (6 months in employment) by 32%.