In the heart of Teesside, a pioneering community project is taking a 'hyperlocal' approach to tackling unemployment, which has hit a four-year high across the UK. The JobsPlus pilot in Stockton-on-Tees is seeing caseworkers like Lyndsey Henry, Khialah Wilson, and Jade Green work intensively within specific estates to connect residents with jobs, providing direct financial help and building vital local connections.
A Door-Opener in the Community
Bryan Stokell, a 47-year-old father, is now working full-time as a security guard after receiving help with his CV and applications from his JobsPlus caseworker, Khialah Wilson. Having faced health problems, he struggled to find suitable work before joining the scheme. "They have a lot of contacts, they can open doors into places," Stokell says. His success has turned him into a 'community champion', encouraging neighbours on the Primrose Hill and Newtown estates to enrol.
The project is one of ten pilots across England, from Penge in south London to Wirral in Merseyside, backed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They are modelled on a successful US scheme, where long-term analysis showed a positive impact on earnings and employment across generations.
More Than Just a Job Application
The 'hyperlocal' method involves saturating a small geographical area with support. Caseworkers provide everything from CV workshops and interview preparation to direct financial assistance, all within the community. Sessions are held at the Newtown community resource centre, a former school, minimising travel barriers.
For 63-year-old Yaw Botwe, the scheme meant being connected to a job at a local Morrisons and receiving a bike to get there, saving him £15 a day on Uber fares. "This is the first time in my life I've got a job that my heart liked," he says.
The support continues even after employment is found. Caseworkers maintain contact, offering moral support. "A lot of my work support customers still come in to see me face to face," says Wilson. "I'm like, 'I'll put the kettle on'."
Building Confidence and Social Capital
For many participants, the journey begins with building confidence. Megan Steel, 19, who studied childcare but was struggling to find a career path, received intensive help from her caseworker, Jade Green. "We worked on your confidence, didn't we? We built you up a bit," Green recalls. When a last-minute interview came up at a local casino, Green met Steel with a clothing voucher to ensure she felt confident. Steel got the job.
The scheme also helps navigate complex systems. Young parents Leia Cuskern, 21, and Thomas Courtney, 18, were supported with finding childcare for their daughter, allowing Cuskern to engage with the jobcentre. Courtney, a care leaver, is now pursuing a diploma in market management with the project's help.
A unique incentive is a £400 bonus paid after eight weeks of sustained employment, helping to bridge the difficult transition from benefits to paid work. Botwe plans to use his to buy presents for his daughters.
Proven Results and an Uncertain Future
The Learning and Work Institute (LWI), which is overseeing the pilots, reports that since the launch in summer 2024, more than 1,000 people have signed up across the ten schemes, with over 270 finding work. An interim assessment in September found three-fifths of those who found jobs had reached the eight-week milestone, triggering the bonus.
Despite the promising results, the future of the projects is uncertain. Government funding is set to run out in March. The pilots are also part-funded by the Youth Futures Foundation charity.
Stephen Evans, chief executive of the LWI, said, "This model is showing real promise to transform neighbourhoods." In Stockton, caseworker Khialah Wilson sums up the hope: "Fingers crossed, because I absolutely love it." The project awaits news on whether its hyperlocal, community-based approach to fighting unemployment will be able to continue.
