Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary visits Lowestoft care farm helping people get back into employment

Liz Kendall, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, visited Lowestoft's Pathways Care Farm today [24 June]. The Shadow Minister joined Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Lowestoft, Jess Asato at the farm.

Pathways Care Farm offers the chance for people to learn new skills and supports many back into work. This includes activities such as maintaining the machines, restoring the barn and looking after the animals.

Liz Kendall and Jess Asato met with people who visit the farm regularly to hear about their path into employment and turning their lives around.

Across the country, there are currently 2.8 million people locked out of work due to long term sickness – a record high – and we are the only G7 country whose employment rate still isn’t back to pre-pandemic levels.

Over the course of this parliament, every region of England has seen an increase in economic inactivity. In the East of England, the number of people economically inactive has risen by more than 137,000 people to more than one in five working age people.

Liz Kendall, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said:

“Organisations like Pathways Care Farm have a huge role in helping people get the skills and confidence to get back to work.

“Across the country there are now a record number of people locked out of work due to long term sickness and we are the only G7 country whose employment rate still isn’t back to pre-pandemic levels.

“Labour’s plan will get Britain working by cutting NHS waiting lists, introducing a new national jobs and careers service, making work pay and supporting people into good jobs across every part of the country.”

Jess Asato, Labour’s Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Lowestoft, said:

“Pathways Care Farm is a wonderful organisation which has a huge impact on the people who need its support. I’m delighted to have invited Liz Kendall to see first hand its role in supporting people with mental health and other conditions back into work.

“Care farms offer a cost-effective way to provide community services and well being to people of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds."