Key issues 313: 22 February 2012

stack of publications

Work Programme figures published

The first official figures on the number of people accepted onto the government’s Work Programme were published by the DWP yesterday. The Work Programme launched in June 2011 and the figures show how many unemployed people have been referred on to the programme and how many have now started. In London, between in June 2011 and the end of October 2011, just under 56,000 people had been referred on to the programme by Jobcentre Plus, and 49,000 had started on the programme.

Read the DWP Work Programme first statistical release

Future local government funding

London Councils chair Mayor Jules Pipe will tomorrow join fellow panellists, including LSE Professor Tony Travers, at a Westminster Social Policy Forum seminar on the future of local government. The seminar will explore the challenges and opportunities for local authorities arising from significant changes to the way local government is funded.

Youth offending conference

Managers working in, or responsible for, Youth Offending Teams (YOTs) are invited to a free conference on improving YOTs’ performance and outcomes for young people. The event is sponsored by London Councils and the Association of London Directors of Children’s Service and will take place on 16 March at Prospero House, near London Bridge.

Velodrome gears up for the summer

The London 2012 Velodrome last week played host to the World Cup in an important test ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Key testing elements included testing the track, athlete flows in the venue, results and timing systems, sport presentation, and the 1,000-strong workforce and volunteers. Team GB won five gold medals in total and set two world records.