HUNDREDS of voluntary sector groups will be involved in delivering the Government's new Work Programme, which is expected to help a million people find a job over the next two years.
Mencap, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Prince's Trust and Action for Blind People will be among those delivering the "radical" welfare reforms.
Ministers said private and voluntary organisations will be given freedom to design support packages for jobseekers and will be paid by results, with more money being given for moving the hardest-to-help off benefits.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: "For the first time those charities and voluntary sector organisations across the country with the know-how to help people with real difficulties in their communities get back to work are being given the chance to do just that.
"Millions of people on out-of-work benefits who have previously been shunted from dole queue to training room to dole queue again will finally be able to access support that's built around their needs."
Ministers said private firms, voluntary groups and the public sector will be used to deliver the biggest-ever payments by results programme.
Contracts will be worth between �3 billion and �5 billion over seven years, with organisations being paid using benefit savings made from getting people into work.
The Association of Learning Providers, which represents most of those awarded contracts, has previously expressed concerns but it said the idea should be given a chance to succeed.
Chief executive Graham Hoyle said: "In keeping with the overall reform of public services, the next logical step is to privatise Jobcentre Plus and to allow it to compete with other providers in assisting people who have been out of work for a short or longer period."
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