Dundee City Council and the Dundee Partnership have announced the approval of almost £2 million of EU money from the European Social Fund, to support jobless people into work.

The funds will be used to support people looking for work, who have been unemployed for some time, or never worked and will help them not only gain new skills and improve their confidence, but help them to overcome the personal challenges they face including debt, health and childcare difficulties.

The cash will be used to fund organisations to work together in the Dundee Employability Pipeline, to offer unemployed people the help they need from a range of different services that also include work experience, qualifications and interviews with local employers.

The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-2020 Programme. For further information visit the Scottish Government website or follow@scotgovESIF

Will Dawson convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee said:

“I am delighted that we have been successful in attracting EU funds, which, alongside the backing Dundee City Council and our partners in the city already provide, will allow organisations to provide the resources, expertise, time and support that many unemployed people who are looking to find jobs in the city want.

I want to ensure that this funding can be used to benefit as many people as possible and help them to take new opportunities to make a better future for themselves.”