BANBURY’S job club is leading the way for other towns across the country to help their unemployed.

The weekly club was the brainchild of North Oxfordshire Tory MP Tony Baldry and opened at the Mill in Spiceball Park.

Since then, a steady stream of representatives from other councils have visited the clibs.

Earlier, the Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions Theresa May came to find out more about the concept and Baroness Warsi made a film about the job club which was screened at the Conservative Party spring conference.

Several weeks ago, the deputy leader of Coventry City Council visited, and last week the leader of Mid Sussex District Council came to see how the scheme worked.

The job club was given a boost last week after Sainsbury’s used it to advertise 11 jobs for its new store in Market Square, Chipping Norton.

Town and district councillor Kieron Mallon said the representatives from Mid Sussex were given a tour and met job seekers and exhibitors.

He said: “They were very impressed and sent back a glowing message that they were glad they came and their council would try to replicate the club.

“Not only is the job club being recognised by politicians and council leaders as setting the pace, it has now been recognised by a major UK retailer like Sainsbury’s.”

At the club, unemployed people can get advice about jobs, benefits, retraining or starting their own business. It operates every Friday at the Mill from 11.30am-2.30pm.

Call 01295 221863 or email info@banburyjobclub.com