Press Release - 6 December 2005

Charity announces initiative to tackle unemployment in Yorkshire's Asian communities

An initiative to tackle unemployment in Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities across Yorkshire and the Humber has been announced by Bradford based charity Quest for Economic Development (QED).

The initiative, called Narrowing the Gap, is being funded by the Treasury and supported by the Department for Work and Pensions and will target employers across the region.

Narrowing the Gap aims to address the employment gap among the South Asian community by getting 500 economically inactive Bangladeshi and Pakistani adults into work by 2008.

It will achieve this by engaging with employers and Job Centres in Yorkshire and the Humber and increasing their understanding of faith and culture in Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities.

According to national figures from QED, there is a 30 per cent employment gap between people of Bangladeshi and Pakistani origin and the rest of the community.

As part of the initiative QED will be holding a series of meetings with high-profile business and community leaders in Yorkshire and the Humber, including Leeds Chamber of Commerce and the Institute of Directors in Yorkshire and Humberside. The meetings, taking place in early 2006, will reinforce the message that individuals from South Asian communities can make a valid contribution to the workplace.

Narrowing the Gap will also provide mentoring and support to an additional 1500 economically inactive individuals in Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities and supply employers with advice and resource materials.

Chief executive of QED, Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, said: "It is vital we work with employers and the business community if we are to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment in Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities. Yorkshire and the Humber is one of the most vibrant and economically successful regions in the UK. It is time we gave everyone a chance to benefit from this renaissance. I am confident Narrowing the Gap will help to achieve this."

For further press information contact or Simon Collister or Scilla Baldwin at Cicada Public Relations Limited on 01423 567111. Alternatively, email simon@cicada-pr.com or scilla@cicada-pr.com.