Double boost for job seekers

A business which aims to help parents in the Barrow area stay in or seek employment has been given a boost by the Barrow Local Committee of Cumbria County Council. The committee has awarded £2,500 to Safe Hands Childcare Ltd, which is based in Barrow town centre, to help buy equipment for the children. The money comes from the Economic Initiatives Fund managed by the Barrow Local Committee. Safe Hands Childcare is a new nursery catering for children aged up to 13. It offers a service between 6am and 10pm to accommodate parents working shifts. With links to Furness College in Barrow, it also enables parents trying to get back into employment to study at evening classes without child care worries. 

Councillor Alan Nicholson, chairman of the Barrow Local Committee, said: 

“This is just the kind of enterprise the fund is set up to support. The child care service not only creates employment for local people, but it offers a service helping others who are trying to gain employment “The fund is there to help enterprises which will stimulate the local economy and provide jobs and we urge anyone in the Barrow area who has ideas for new businesses to find out more about it.” 

The committee also made grants of:   

• £2,500 to Sun City, a small suntan business in Barrow, which safeguards two jobs and helps create another part-time post 
• £2,500 to Weigh To Save, helping create a new business and one new job in Dalton town centre 
• £2,500 to Lake District Peninsulas Fighting Back to help the partnership achieve its aim of increasing visitor numbers to the area by 50,000, assisting 50 local enterprises, safeguarding 50 jobs and advising 330 businesses.    

The economic initiatives fund has itself received a massive boost recently. The Barrow Local Committee put £25,000 into it in 2002, but has now been successful in winning £50,000 matching money from the Furness Strategic Partnership’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The extra cash increases the total amount in the economic initiatives fund to £75,000, a level much higher than in previous years 

The economic initiatives fund was established three years ago to assist community businesses, improve access for unemployed residents to the job market, and aid the small business community. The maximum grant that can be applied for is 50 per cent of the total cost of the initiative, up to a maximum of £2,500. The fund is limited and potential applicants are being advised to return their completed application forms promptly. 

The Barrow Local Committee will make decisions on applications. Anyone wanting an application form should contact Nik Hardy, Community Development Officer with Cumbria County Council, on 01228 607345.