Four more grants awarded for innovative employability training in Great Yarmouth borough

The Inclusion Project aims to 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, funded by the borough council and the European Social Fund, the council is making available £120,000 over three years to not-for-profit small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in order to develop employability services that address gaps in the training currently available and meet residents' needs.

Grants of between £1,000 and £7,500 are available. So far this year, eight innovative organisations have successfully applied for grants totalling £57,640, with the latest funding round seeing £28,640 shared between four organisations:

• C.A.P.P.A. (theatre school) - £7,500 to support more local residents by offering upskilling opportunities including confidence-building, motivation and an insight into careers within performing arts. The project is aimed at those furthest from the labour market, particularly those with additional needs. C.A.P.P.A. also intends to start a social enterprise selling hand-made merchandise.
• Back to Bushcrafters CIC (outdoor education provider) - £7,250 to offer more training courses that suit employability, including accredited qualifications that are work-related. This CIC thinks outside of the box and looks at different ways to engage and make training fun, with a focus on bushcraft, first aid and common sense.
• DIAL Great Yarmouth (independent advice charity) - £7,440 to deliver a range of courses to support vulnerable residents back into employment and compliment the current employment support already within the borough.
• Mandalay Wellbeing CIC - £6,450 to bring together jobseekers with employers and to provide a platform for employers to present about their businesses, the skills they seek in employees and to provide a tutorial session on a monthly subject around employability. The group will also provide networking opportunities between jobseekers and businesses.

Cllr Andy Grant, chairman of the housing and neighbourhoods committee, said: "As part of our ongoing work to support inclusive growth, these grants are enabling not-for-profit SMEs to deliver some truly innovative support, helping those in the most challenging circumstances to build their employability skills and find jobs.

"The first four projects to be funded are now underway. The next funding round will open on June 10, so if you're an eligible SME with a great idea for employability training, which will help to improve life chances of those furthest from the labour market, then please get in touch to discuss grant-funding opportunities."

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.

For more information and the application form, please visit www.great-yarmouth.gov.uk/inclusion-project-scheme For support with the application form or process, contact Tracey Read, Inclusion Project Coordinator, via tracey.read@great-yarmouth.gov.uk or 07468 764753. The closing date is July 8.