There's no justification for extending failing Work Programme

SCVO media comment 4 December 2014 Following today’s announcement that the UK Government is extending contracts to deliver its Work Programme, Lucy McTernan, Deputy Chief Executive, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, said: “We are utterly appalled by the UK Government’s move to extend its Work Programme contracts when it was agreed by the Smith Commission that it would transfer to the Scottish Parliament as soon as current contracts expired. “But our disappointment doesn’t lie so much in the almost immediate failure to keep to the agreement as in the fact that it’s impossible to justify why such a broken and failing system would ever be continued. “All the evidence tells us that the Work Programme simply does not work. In fact, only getting 18% of people in the scheme actually get a job. We’re completely dismayed by this delay in ridding Scotland of this exploitative, punitive and under-performing programme. “We already have the highly successful Community Jobs Scotland (CJS) which has changed the lives of 5,000 young unemployed people by creating paid jobs for them in charities and third sector organisations right across Scotland. This includes young people facing the biggest barriers to work, including low skills and qualifications. Overall, more than 60% of people taking part in CJS go on to either full time employment or take up further training. “We need to invest more in approaches like this which are proven to create real jobs for people instead of punishing and exploiting them. This is the time to invest in what works not what doesn't.” ENDS Notes to editors:

1. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is the national body representing the interests of charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises.  The Scottish third sector turns over £4.9 billion a year and employs 138,000 people in over 45,000 organisations. For more on SCVO see www.scvo.scot
2. To arrange further comment, please call Charlotte McNeill, Press Officer, SCVO on 0779 060 1995