Every £25k create
1 job

Work & Skills Fund (£3k – £25k Small / £25k + Large)

Every £25k create
1 job

Copeland Community Fund 2017-19 Work & Skills Fund Strategy commits to two years funding for Work & Skills projects in the borough.  There are 4 areas in which a project may focus:

(1) Work & Skills Projects

  • Projects delivering – Advice for Work
    • e.g. Information, advice and guidance (including CV writing and job searches), employer education focusing on young people
  • Projects delivering – Skills for Work
    • e.g. Sector based work academies, practical activities, basic skills (numeracy, literacy, personal development), targeted engagement, functional skills, work related course/certificate/licences, IT support
  • Projects delivering – Experience for Work
    • e.g. Work experience coordination (all ages), volunteering schemes, traineeships, mentoring / coaching
  • Projects delivering – Access into Work
    • e.g. Apprenticeship schemes/subsidies, job brokerage, graduate scheme, accessibility transport, employer engagement, employment factory

(2) Work & Skills Infrastructure

  • To support organisations delivering the Work & Skills agenda. Covering costs which will assist development; training, salaries and associated costs, external evaluations, volunteer expenses

(3) Project based – Creating Jobs and/or Safeguarding Jobs

  • Employment and training as direct outputs
  • Sustainability
  • Developing a community business
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Social Enterprises

(4) Pathways into Work & Skills

  • Projects which support individuals to overcome barriers into work
  • Financial and / or digital inclusion
  • Jobs created or safeguarded for projects with health and wellbeing output
    • e.g. Supporting homelessness, domestic violence, mental health, isolation, disability, or age specific targeted projects.
  • Projects must demonstrate that they can meet the NDA Socio Economic Policy.
  • Projects will be assessed on value for money / unit cost per job – For every £25,000 of grant, applicants must be able to create at least 1 new full-time equivalent sustainable job.
  • Organisations can apply for the Work & Skills Fund on an individual basis, however, CCF also looks favourably on collaborative projects.
  • The Fund encourages collaborative projects, and as such will consider such Work & Skills projects for up to 100% funding, under exceptional circumstances and subject to CCF Board approval.
  • Applications to the Fund (with the exception of collaborative projects noted above) require match funding of:
    • 50% for projects with a grant request over £25k
    • 25% for projects with a grant request under £25k
  • Any project wishing to apply should consider how they can achieve and demonstrate the following outputs:
    • Social Enterprises Created
    • FTE Jobs Created
    • FTE Jobs Safeguarded
    • Local People Assisted in their Skills Development
    • Local People Helped to Secure Employment, Education or Training
    • No. of Apprentices and/or Trainees
    • No. of Volunteer hours
  • Capital costs to support revenue projects may be considered on an individual project basis.

Exclusions for the Work & Skills Fund will include:

  • Youth focused projects (apply to Youth Fund)
  • Faith based activities
  • Individual schools or other educational establishments
  • Direct replacement of activities which are a statutory obligation

Contact Copeland Community Fund on 01946 598352 for further information or email info@copelandcommunityfund.co.uk