In his annual speech on 7th March 2007, Council Leader Sir Simon Milton said:
“Next I turn to Worklessness.
Getting people into work is one of the best anti-poverty strategies there is and yet there are sections of our community who are far from work-ready regardless of the opportunities available to them.
Taking that first step into work after you have been workless for a long period is a daunting prospect for many. Even part-time employment can seem too difficult for those with responsibilities as carers, parents, students or who suffer from depression.
Yet the DWP takes the view that the only two options are for people to be in full-time work or seeking full-time work. We need to find other alternatives and I have been greatly impressed by the work of a social enterprise called Slivers-of-Time which has had real success in East London. It works by allowing people to offer themselves up for work for reputable employers in packages as small as one hour. It targets precisely those groups of people for whom holding down a full or part-time job is impossible but who nevertheless want to do some work. And for many of those it is the first step they need on a journey to becoming more independent. I have therefore asked officers to investigate incorporating the Slivers-of-Time concept in Westminster when we re-let our temporary staff contracts in May.
Allied to this, we will launch a Local Employment Initiative in Westminster.”
Work is now proceeding with council managers.
Westminster Council's Slivers-of-Time Working page
