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Job advice to be offered in community centres and GP surgeries in deprived areas

Government has announced expert job advice will be available in community centres and GP surgeries in some of the most deprived housing estates across Britain to help thousands more people into jobs.

Jobcentre Plus Outreach advisers will work with partners, such as housing associations, resident groups, local authorities and local community organisations, to reach more than 15,000 people and to address the issues of deep-seated and intergenerational worklessness.

Teams will be based in Norfolk, Nottinghamshire, North and North East London, Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth, Northumbria, Greater Manchester East and West, Ayrshire, Dumfries, Galloway, Inverclyde, Kent, West of England, North and Mid Wales, Staffordshire, North East Yorkshire and the Humber, South Yorkshire, South London, South Tyne and Wear Valley ?and Merseyside

Work and pensions minister Helen Goodman said: "We know that most people want to work but for a small minority of people not working has become an accepted way of life. We will be taking our services out of the job centre and into the community in a number of deprived estates.

"Our Outreach advisers will work with community partners in unemployment hotspots across Britain to make sure Jobcentre Plus support and advice is easily accessible to everyone.

"Work is the best way out of poverty and our Outreach programme is part of the broad range of support available through Jobcentre Plus to help people into work."

Each of the teams can decide on the best way to provide intense support to suit their areas. This could range from setting up adviser sessions in doctors' surgeries, to visiting benefits claimants in their own homes.

The partnership approach will offer a range of specialist services to people, from employment and skills training to advice on debt, drug and housing issues, as well as access to the right benefit, to help families lift themselves out of poverty.

The 16 teams working across Britain will focus on deprived communities to help benefit claimants move closer to the jobs market and into work.