ORGANISATIONS that support residents into work in the Tilbury area are being encouraged to apply for funding.

The Tilbury Community-led Local Development (CLLD) programme was set up in 2016 to tackle some of the significant social issues in the town, which is acknowledged as the poorest part of Thurrock.

More than half the neighbourhoods in the town are categorised as among the most deprived in England. In council properties in the town, 45 per cent of residents of working age were not in employment in 2016 and 53 were are eligible for housing benefit.

Around 60 households in Tilbury are designated as 'troubled families', defined as those that have problems and cause problems to the community around them, putting high costs on the public sector. They often demonstrate patterns of poor parenting, drug use, anti-social behaviour and criminality.

On the jobs front a stark mismatch between the jobs that are available in Tilbury and the local workforce was identified. In 2016 there were 787 more jobs than there were employed residents.

The programme pointed out that unemployed residents did not, in general, have the skills required to access many of the jobs being created in and around the port in particular.

Meanwhile, the number of people employed in low-skilled elementary occupations was significantly higher than the national average.

The programme has achieved some notable successes but much more remains to be done, though a clock is ticking on its funding.

In total, £500,000 is currently available from the fund to be distributed among organisations that aim to support residents living in Tilbury St Chads ward and Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park ward who are unemployed and face considerable barriers getting into work. All grant applicants will need to secure equivalent match funding.

Thurrock Council's cabinet member for communities, Cllr Deb Huelin, said: "The community is right at the heart of this project, which works with private, public and voluntary sector organisations, to reach out to people who need help to overcome key barriers to employment.

"Eight projects have been approved and have already received a share, or will receive a share, of nearly £2.5million. For example, CLLD funding has been used towards projects in Tilbury such as offering learning opportunities to those with mild to moderate mental health problems; and engaging with residents via a physical activities programme.

"By applying for this grant, organisations can benefit from funding enabling them to offer tailored and accessible support services that are right for Tilbury, and help residents overcome obstacles and successfully move into jobs, education or training."

The Tilbury CLLD project is part-subsidised by the European Structural and Investment Fund and will run to December 2022. For more information, visit the Stronger Together Thurrock website or email [email protected].