Latest news: Charities help 7,500 into employment

Charities and social enterprises could help graduates in North Yorkshire get into employment, according to new research. 12/10/2011

The study, by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) North, found that an estimated 7,500 people had been helped into employment by charities and social enterprises in York and North Yorkshire last year.

This is equivalent to 21% of those who stopped claiming Job Seekers Allowance over the same period.

The research also examined the number of volunteers in the area, revealing that the voluntary sector employs 7% of North Yorkshire’s total workforce, a total of 139,241 staff. If their time was charged at the national minimum wage, this would have a value of £116,194,043 per year.

‘The local voluntary sector in York and North Yorkshire has real economic clout by helping numerous people into employment and training as well as employing an estimated 7% of North Yorkshire’s workforce itself. But the sector needs to do more to think in economic terms and how they might help the Local Enterprise Partnership meet its objectives,’ said Ed Cox, director of IPPR North.

‘On the LEPs side, board members need to recognise this contribution to the local economy and include the sector in economic planning and decision-making,’ he added.

The number of charities in the area is also growing, despite the economic downturn. An extra 76 charities and social enterprises were set up in the last two years, with 420 other organisations reporting growth over the same period.