ROCHDALE REBUILD

That this House congratulates Rochdale Rebuild, which aims to help young men and women who have been unemployed for a long time and have no skills or qualifications to become active citizens in the community, on the completion of its first pilot group; notes that none of the group has been involved in new criminal activity since the start of the programme, nor have those with drugs issues taken illegal substances; further notes that following these early successes it has received five times more referrals to the programme from frontline agencies than there are places available; welcomes the financial support it has been given by the Learning and Skills Council through the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities Fund and the Jericho Community Project; notes that this funding is scheduled to cease in July; and calls on the Learning and Skills Council to continue its support so that Rochdale Rebuild can maintain its work with those individuals who show a real determination to turn their lives around and become regular members of society.