'Routeback'

Under the Labour Government, unemployment has fallen to record lows as Government schemes help more people than ever before to find employment.

Figures for February 2003 show that there are more people in work than ever before - unemployment is at its lowest since 1975, proof that Labour is delivering on its promises to boost the economy and create more jobs for more people.

For South Shields, this means that 1168 people have come off benefits and gone into employment.

In 1997, one of the Government's first promises was that we would help 250,000 young people into work through the New Deal for young people. Six years on, youth unemployment is beaten back.

For South Shields, this means that in April 1997, there were 520 young people who had been without a job for 6 months or longer. By February of this year, that figure had dropped to 115.

These successes are good news for South Shields. Our young people in particularly are benefiting, with their aspirations increasing as they see friends and bothers and sisters winning employment and a better lifestyle, inspiring them onwards to bigger and better achievements. But there is more to do.

Did you know that nationally, 7% of the population is out of work because of long term health problems or disabilities?

A massive 60% of these people suffer from musculo-skeletal problems, heart disease, or mental health problems. Here in the North East, the majority of long term absence from work is caused by musculo skeletal conditions such as arthritis, a painful and debilitating condition which can affect not just the elderly, but also surprisingly young people.

Often, people suffering from such conditions are out of work because employers do not know about easy changes which could be made to the workplace to help them, or because long periods of illness have affected their self confidence, and made it difficult form them to feel that they can easily go back to work. Additionally, people who have been unwell for long periods of time can be frightened that they may lose their job, or their business.

So what can be done to help people in this position?

The Government has introduced a new scheme called Routeback, aimed specifically at people who have been on sick leave for 6 to 26 weeks, and are worried about returning to work or losing their job.

The Routeback scheme is targeting people who live and work in Tyneside, and can offer appropriate help no matter what the ailment - be it stress or depression, heart disease or back problems. This help can involve extra sessions of medical treatment, helping the person's employer to make changes to the workplace environment, or rebuilding confidence through confidential counselling sessions.

The first step for anyone who wants to feels that they might benefit from the Routeback scheme is to call the Routeback advice line, or to make an appointment with their GP. Routeback is entirely voluntary, nobody who has been or is currently on sick leave will be forced to take part, but I hope that anyone who has been on sick leave for more than 6 weeks and wants to return to work would be encouraged to take advantage of this free scheme, and the help and support it can offer.

Contact the Routeback advice line on 0191 230 8070.