John Hill, The Wharf Newspaper, 5th November 2009

Jobs: Plaudits for businesses which demonstrate their social responsibility.

LEADING politicians gave their backing to a scheme designed to put young people into work.

Poplar and Canning Town MP Jim Fitzpatrick and London Assembley member John Biggs hailed the work of Limehouse charity City Gateway, which is liaising with Canary Wharf businesses to offer mentoring to those not in school or employment.

Treasury financial secretary Stephen Timms was also present as the charity presented its model at 11 Downing Street last week, as were representatives from 40 firms including Canary Wharf Group, Credit Suisse and State Street.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "Canary Wharf provides great opportunities for our young people and the Olympics will be an added stimulus.

"Our kids are every bit as smart and intelligent as kids anywhere else in the country. We've got to give them the opportunities to get the qualifications, to get the jobs that will be available for the next 50 years.

"80,000 are working on the Wharf now and it will grow to 140,000 over the next 10 years. Most of the companies relocated and brought all their staff with them. Well, they're all going to retire and move on, they're going to create vacancies and our kids must get those jobs."

He told business representatives: "The support you give to City Gateway to mentor and to give aspiration is so important I cannot tell you how critical it is. You're providing role models and guides, getting kids off the streets, off of drugs, out of gangs into an environment where they can express themselves and develop."

City Gateway cited statistics which stated that the number of 18-24 year-olds out of work or school nationwide has risen by more than 100,000 in the past year, while local figures have dropped from 15 per cent to eight per cent over three years.

CEO Eddie Stride said: "Our work is having a real impact on individual statistics around but there needs to be more support of third sector organisations across the country."

City and East London Assembly representative John Biggs said there was a "cliff edge" between the wealthy of the Wharf and those in the surrounding community.

He said: "We need to raise people's confidence and skills. The communities I represent have traditionally been involved in quite low skill industries but they need to look upwards, and with this sort of support they definitely are."

East Ham MP Mr Timms said the work of City Gateway encourages private sector organisations to "recognise the responsiblities they have to the local communities they operate in".

He said: "The contribution of City Gateway is more valuable than ever in these times we're in and I think we should be particularly thankful to those companies who have been continually supportive of the organisation despite all the pressures of the recession."