MORE than 19,000 people across Keighley and the Bradford district are set to receive tailored support to help them back into work.

The Restart scheme will provide assistance to people who have lost their jobs due to the pandemic.

Participants will be given community-based support over 12 months.

They will receive help to learn new skills, overcome barriers to work and gain access to vacancies.

There will also be the opportunity to retrain to find work in growth sectors, gain professional accreditations and improve digital skills.

The scheme – part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, announced last year to support people directly impacted by the pandemic – is being delivered by Maximus UK, with partner organisations.

Restart is aimed at Universal Credit claimants who have been out of work for between 12 and 18 months. All referrals to the scheme will be through the Department for Work and Pensions network of job centres.

Maximus UK is delivering the scheme across West and South Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and South and East London. Throughout West Yorkshire, more than 63,000 people will be supported.

Maximus UK is to invest over £5 million into hundreds of community organisations, charities and small-to-medium-sized businesses through a new Community Partnership Network, which will provide expert support services – including training and mental health help – to people on the Restart initiative.

Dr Paul Williams – for Maximus UK, which is one of the largest providers of employment, health and disability support programmes in the country – said: “Through delivery of Restart, we are committed to playing our part in the effort to rebuild the economy. We are looking forward to working with local community partners to help thousands of people to access effective, tailored support and overcome barriers to get back into work.”

Data released by the Office for National Statistics last month showed that there were 29,850 people in the Bradford district claiming unemployment benefits in June. The figure compared to 32,190 in March – a fall of 7.3 per cent. The drop coincided with lockdown restrictions easing and there had been a particular reduction in unemployed young people due to support through the Kickstart scheme.