Online Protest Against Workfare

FOI Requests

We know that a number of FOI requests have been made in relation to Workfare. We will attempt to catalogue these as over the next few weeks.

What is the average and maximum placement length?  How many of these have been required to work for private companies?

Answer: The DWP does not hold this information

Guidelines given by the DWP to providersto determine the suitability of employers to provide work experience placements; and Requirements demanded of employers giving the placements (egproviding a reference when the placement is finished, not making people do unsuitable work etc).

Answer: The placement must also be genuinely additional e.g. a participant  must not fulfil a role which would otherwise be advertised as vacant.

Workfare in my local area

South East (Kent, Surrey and Sussex) The names and locations of organisations participating in the Work Programme

If you want to know about Workfare taking place in your local community you can Join: www.whatdotheyknow.com and send a Freedom of Information request to: DWP at:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/new/dwp

asking for the names of the organisations that offer the:  Mandatory Work Activity (MWA) Placements; Work Experience Placements, or Work Programme Placement: Mentioning the location and name of the Provider.

Location & MWA Prime Provider

South East - A4e
South West - Rehab Group
London - Seetec
East of England - Seetec
East Midlands - Seetec
West Midlands - ESG
North West - JHP Group
Yorkshire and Humber - BEST Training
North East - Ingeus
Scotland - JHP Group
Wales - Rehab Group

The DWP may 'refuse' a request, though an an internal review can be requested and mention that in the past the DWP did provide this kind of information, such as:

DWP Our Ref: VTR 1743

If the internal review still means the information is not disclosed make a complaint to the ICO: casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk