An interim evaluation of the employment initiative Moving on Up has shown that, as of November 2016, approximately 223 of the 774 young black men supported by the initiative had secured employment.
The context for the initiative is that many talented young people are missing out on employment opportunities. The unemployment rate for young black men remains persistently higher than for other groups. Unemployment amongst black male graduates in London is more than triple that of white graduates. We’re doing something about this and employers can too.
Grants were awarded to six organisations: Action West London (formerly Action Acton), Elevation Networks, Hackney CVS, London Youth, Making the Leap and Step Ahead that use a range of different models to support young black men to transition successfully into employment. Work stared in March 2015.
In November 2016, Damian Hinds MP, Minister of State for Employment attended an event convened by Moving on Up at Hackney CVS.
“I was greatly impressed by the passion, drive and determination of the young men who I met today. They would be an asset to any organisation and as long as they remain outside of the workplace our economy will miss out on their undoubted skills and talents. Employment continues to run at a record high across the board, with youth unemployment down by nearly 350,000 and more black people in work than ever before, and yet it remains a huge concern that if you’re a young black man you’re more likely to be out of work than any other ethnic group. This is something we have to change if we’re to create a society that works for everybody and that’s why I’m right behind the excellent work that the Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG) is doing in this area”
Damian Hinds, MP, Minister of State for Employment
Moving on Up is funded by Trust for London and City Bridge Trust, in partnership with the Black Training and Enterprise Group (BTEG). The Social Innovation Partnership (TSIP) is undertaking a process and impact evaluation of the initiative.
If you are an employer who wants further information about the initiative, please contact:
Sioned Churchill, Trust for London – 020 7606 6145 or
Jeremy Crook, BTEG – 020 7832 5800. Email: jeremy@bteg.co.uk
The learning report of Moving on Up can be downloaded here.