Applications open for grants to develop employability training courses in Great Yarmouth borough

The new Inclusion Project will assist long-term unemployed and economically inactive residents who face complicated life challenges and who are most disconnected from community support, including from entry-level training, volunteering and work placement opportunities.

As part of the initiative, which is funded by the borough council and the European Social Fund, the council is making available £120,000 over three years to not-for-profit SMEs in order to develop employability services that address gaps in the training currently available and meet residents' needs.

Following a successful project launch recently, which was attended by 14 SME organisations, the council is putting out its first call for grants applications to provide employability skills. Applicants can be based anywhere in the UK, but must deliver their proposed new services within the borough and be prepared to match-fund their requested grants, either from other funding sources or in kind.

Eligible enterprises interested in finding out more or applying should contact Tracey Read, Inclusion Project Coordinator, via tracey.read@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or 07468 764753. The closing date is October 25.

Cllr Andy Grant, chairman of the housing and neighbourhoods committee, said: "This is a great opportunity for not-for-profit SMEs to help drive towards inclusive economic growth in the borough by assisting those furthest from the workplace into training, education, volunteering and ultimately jobs. We invite any eligible SMEs interested in these exciting grant-funding opportunities to get in touch."