Tackling worklessness is one of the Minister's key regional priorities, and there are significant numbers of people claiming out of work benefits in West Cumbria.
Regional Minister Beverley Hughes said:
"I was pleased to see the innovative projects helping people into employment in West Cumbria. Some involve partnership with the third sector and support of local social enterprise.
"Both the Green Apprenticeship Scheme and the Wheels 2 Work initiative offer an interesting approach to getting workless people, particularly young people into sustained employment.
"The number of people claiming out of work benefits in Copeland and Allerdale are both above the national average and these projects are helping to provide opportunities and overcome obstacles to employment.
"The Government is working to support local partners, including local authorities, through the award of Working Neighbourhood Funding, and I'm very encouraged to see that tackling worklessness is a priority within the new Local Area Agreement, to which local partners have signed up.
"The Green Apprenticeship Scheme started as a pilot, but because of its success has continued for another 12 months and is not only successfully employing people, but they are working to improve their communities.
"I was particularly pleased to see the Home Appliance Project, which started in 1999, now fully self sustaining. The project not only provides training for local people, helping them back into the workplace, but also provides affordable domestic appliances and reduces landfill waste by recycling and repair.
"Living in a rural community makes it difficult for young people to get around, but the Wheels 2 Work scheme offers them the opportunity to have their own transport in the shape of a moped, enabling them to get to work or college.
"The advantages for the wider community can be counted through the reduction of people on benefits, increase in economic activity to support local businesses and a new citizen who is productive, responsible and able to play a full part if local affairs."
During the day the Minister:
* Visited the Green Apprenticeships scheme in Workington where disaffected young people are taking part in environmental apprenticeships. The project has seen 20 unemployed local people trained and carrying out environmental and improvement work for a local Housing Association and achieving a 95 per cent customer satisfaction rating.
* Saw a project that recycles redundant domestic appliances that has provided training for over 500 young adults, with 40 percent of them progressing into full time employment.
* Heard plans to develop an Intensive Family Support Project to support families within their homes to challenge behaviour in the family and combat anti social behaviour. This follows an earlier review among children in the area that found the key challenges for young people included alcohol and substance misuse, teenage pregnancy, generational unemployment, ant social behaviour and lack of aspiration.
* Visited the Wheels 2 Work scheme at Egremont which loans mopeds to young people in rural areas to help them access training and employment.
