John Phillips COUNCIL bosses unveiled a �2.5million package to help people find jobs as latest figures revealed unemployment numbers had leapt by nearly half since August. The two-year package – including skills training and work experience - was announced after statis

John Phillips

COUNCIL bosses unveiled a �2.5million package to help people find jobs as latest figures revealed unemployment numbers had leapt by nearly half since August.

The two-year package - including skills training and work experience - was announced after statistics showed claimants in Barking and Dagenham had increased by 46.8 per cent from 3,870 to 5,683 last month.

People joining the dole queue rose by 60 per cent in the UK, from 913,700 to 1,464,100, over the same period.

But the figures also revealed 5.5 per cent of the workforce was unemployed in Barking and Dagenham, against four per cent in the UK, in March.

By comparison, one in 10 - 10.5 per cent - were on the dole in the borough at the height of the early 1990s recession, in March 1993, compared to 8.3 per cent in Britain.

The Barking and Dagenham support services will be delivered in the borough's 14 children centres, health facilities and to residents living in council homes and those housed by social landlords.

Labour Cllr Mick McCarthy, executive member for regeneration, said: "We are committed to helping our residents during the recession by providing this package of employment and skills' support.

"Local people can access pre and post employment information at organisations that they would normally visit within the community, such as children's centres. We hope that this will make our residents life a bit easier."

For further more information call Barking and Dagenham regeneration manager Becky Smith on 020 8724 8090.