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Despite being unemployed and claiming Incapacity Benefit for 20 years, Mark Cunningham, from Merthyr, never gave up on the idea of returning to work, and was eager to become a self-employed car mechanic. When a local garage was put up for sale he sought the advice of welfare reform project, Want2Work, who helped him with training and financial support to start his own business.

In recognition of his determination to get back into work, 40-year-old Mark was presented with the award for ‘Achievement through Entrepreneurship’, which was just one of the categories at an event held in Pontypridd earlier today highlighting the success of the Want2Work project over the past four years.

Mark said: “I was a bit worried about whether or not I’d be able to afford to run my own business, because you’re never 100% certain it will be successful. But my adviser explained how Want2Work could help me financially and I decided to give it a go. In just two months of opening the garage, we were getting enough work in that meant I needed to take on extra staff myself, and now I have four people working for me, one of who I got from Want2Work.”

Another winner from the Merthyr area was Ellie Edmunds, 37, who received the ‘Achievement through Health & Wellbeing’ award.
 
Ellie had suffered badly from anxiety and low self-esteem. She found the training and support she received through Want2Work motivated her to continue searching for work, even when all she wanted to do was stay at home. But her hard work paid off when she landed a new job, and lost five stone of weight in the process.

“I was very withdrawn and not really looking after myself before I started with Want2Work,” said Ellie. “Thanks to all their help, I feel healthier, and I’m now a self-employed slimming consultant, helping other people to feel better about themselves too.”

Forty-eight-year-old Gary Hanford from Port Talbot, picked up the award for ‘Achievement through Employment’. Having been out of work and on benefit for 20 years, with no qualifications or work experience to his name, the support he received enabled him to find work as a driver for a roadside rescue company.

“My children have never known parents who worked for a living,” said Gary. “I’m proud that by getting back into work I’m setting a good example for them.”

Speaking at the awards event, Minister for Employment & Welfare reform, Stephen Timms, said: “Understanding the problems that prevent people - like Mark, Ellie and Gary - going back to work; providing flexible support; and addressing the need for training and skills, is critical if we are to get people off benefits and back into work. Since it was piloted almost four years ago in Merthyr, Neath Port Talbot and Cardiff, Want2Work has helped more than 2,000 people back into work through support that’s been tailored specifically for each individual’s personal needs.”

Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales announced £18 million of new funding from the European Social Fund to resource the Want2Work project for the next 6 years.  It will be matched by £14million from the Department for Work and Pensions.

The First Minister said: “This £32-million package is expected to support around 14,000 people with preparation and training for returning to work.  Our best estimate of the number who will succeed in getting jobs as a result of that support is 5,000.  That builds on our success in getting 2,000 back to work as a result of Want2Work support over the past three years.  It is a substantial step up in the rate of re-entry to the labour market so it is a considerable challenge. However when you hear about success stories like Mark, Kelly and Ellie, you realise that those 5,000 persons getting jobs actually mean 5,000 individual success stories.  It is an outstanding example of a three-way partnership between the Assembly Government, the UK Government and the committed individuals concerned.  It is also an outstanding example of good use of European Convergence Funding, the successor to Objective One."