The ESF Community Learning Grants scheme is provided by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council and administered locally by the Workers' Educational Association North West (WEA).
The programme aims to help people aged 19 years and older to overcome barriers and gain the skills and confidence to get back into work. Beneficiaries should be unemployed or economically inactive people from the hardest to reach communities.
The Fast Track Round has been introduced this month in addition to Round 7 and is for work in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Halton and Lancashire only (not Merseyside). It will allow successful applicants to get a quicker decision and be able to start running projects sooner, at the end of October rather than waiting until next January to start.
The additional date is not being offered for Merseyside as most of the available funding (92%) has been allocated for this area, and it is likely that fewer than ten grants will be awarded to Merseyside groups for Round 7. In the North West, however, only 64% of the funding has been awarded, and it is possible that around 80 grants will be awarded.
Constituted voluntary and community groups, registered charities, and social enterprises, with an income of less than £300,000 per year and which employ no more than nine FTE paid staff may apply. They should already play an important role at grass roots level, providing intensive support to those individuals that are most disadvantaged in the labour market.
Grants of between £1,000 and £13,500 can support a wide range of activities including:
• Initial help with basic skills
• Taster work experience, including voluntary work
• Training, advice and counselling
• Job search assistance
• Confidence building and personal development
• Support to individuals to overcome barriers to learning or employment
The priority groups are:
• People with disabilities or health conditions (including those with learning difficulties, mental health issues or drug and alcohol dependency problems)
• Lone parents
• People aged 50 or over and seeking employment
• People from black and ethnic minorities
• Women
Please note, however, that applications can be considered for any group of unemployed people that can evidence need, such as ex-offenders, homeless people, 19-25 year olds etc.
The deadline for Fast Track applications is 22 September 2014
The deadline for Round 7 applications is 27 October 2014
For further information and to apply, visit: http://nw.wea.org.uk/