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The ACT Toolkit for Centenary Challenge

Exploring the role of the state - toolkit details

The Challenge, aimed at Years 9 and 10, asks pupils to explore the role of the state in supporting unemployed young people and create a digital presentation of their findings. A toolkit for teachers and pupils has been designed to help teachers and pupils with the challenge.

The Association for Citizenship Teaching has launched this national challenge toolkit for secondary school children. In partnership with the Department of Work and Pensions, the challenge marks the hundred year anniversary of the Labour Exchange, the predecessor of today’s Jobcentre Plus.

Winston Churchill and the origin of the Labour Exchange

Labour Exchanges were created by the Labour Exchange Act of 1909. Winston Churchill, as President of the Board of Trade, rushed to get 62 Exchanges open by February 1st 1910. It was the start of what was then a radical concept - that Government should bring together people looking for work and employers looking for workers.

The launch of the first Labour Exchanges saw crowds of several hundred people across the country line up to be the first to get jobs. Churchill visited the three at Hackney, Stepney and Camberwell Green on opening day. The first Exchanges had separate entrances and rooms for men, women and children - those as young as 11 years old queued up to find work.

From humble beginnings, the service has gone from strength to strength. Today's Jobcentre Plus employs around 84,000 people in around 750 offices who help customers into jobs from 10,000 new vacancies received every day.

How to be involved in the Challenge toolkit

Go to the Toolkit download and start your pupils off today.

Live links for further information

• DirectGov website
• The Hackney Museum, London-see above
• The Peoples Museum, Manchester
• An article at BBC Online
• and also Facebook site Labour Exchange Centenary

Useful Documents - Right click to download

Centenary Challenge Toolkit

Uploaded : 29 January 2010

Filename : dwp_challenge_toolkit_final0.pdf ( 1.41 MB )

Description : An activity for secondary schools to explore the role of Government in supporting unemployed young people. The Challenge, aimed primarily at Years 9 and 10, asks pupils to explore the role of the state in supporting unemployed young people and create a digital presentation of their findings.