The Right to Bid initiative cut

The DWP has announced that the Right to Bid initiative will cease with immediate effect.

The statement below in full:

"The Government has announced its plans for radical reforms of the welfare to work system and the implementation of the Work Programme.  The Work Programme will be a single integrated package of support providing personalised support for everyone who finds themselves out of work regardless of the benefit they claim.

The Work Programme will offer significant new opportunities for contractors from the private and voluntary sectors to deliver truly flexible and personalised support, building appropriate partnerships with this aim. It is recognised the crucial role the voluntary sector in particular has to play in tackling worklessness, and the plans for the Work Programme will reflect this.

This means we will not be undertaking any further work on bids that have been submitted under the Right to Bid initiative. We appreciate the time and effort that has gone in to developing and submitting all of these bids and individual letters will be sent to each of the organisations involved."

CREATE is an example of a consortium which will be affected by this development. The consortium was applying for funding to create a Community Allowance to create new jobs by enabling community organisations to pay local people on benefits to do part time, sessional or short-term work that strengthens their community.

Source: DWP