Four grants agreed for employability training in Great Yarmouth borough

And applications are now open from not-for-profit small and medium-sized enterprises to the second funding round of this grant scheme, which offers grants of between £1,000 and £7,500. The closing date is Tuesday, February 12.

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 SMEs in order to develop employability services that address gaps in the training currently available and meet residents' needs.

Following a formal application process, the council has now agreed the first set of grants as follows:

• Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Young Carers - £7,434 towards a Peer Support Group for Young Adult Carers aged 16 and over, which will see youth workers support young adult carers during their transitions from high school to college, training or employment.
• Feathers Futures - £7,500 to support a new project called Future You, offering activity sessions, workshops, and peer development programmes for women, including building self-confidence, uncovering strengths,introduction to self-employment, preparing to study, interview skills and CV writing.
• Top Banana - £6,950 to support delivery of a 'Community Kitchen' assisting people who are long-term unemployed and economically inactive to have improved access to local volunteering, training and employment opportunities. The project is centred around a mobile community café approach, designed to bridge persistent gaps to the mainstream economy for people who are vulnerable to difficult social and economic conditions.
• MAP - £7,335 towards proving advice and support to disadvantaged and vulnerable young people to help them secure meaningful, stable and sustainable employment, education and training. These young people are among the furthest away from employment and experiencing multiple challenges.

Cllr Andy Grant, chairman of the housing and neighbourhoods committee, said: "Not-for-profit SMEs are important partners in our collective drive towards inclusive economic growth, helping those in the most challenging circumstances and furthest from work to build employability skills and ultimately get a job.

"This initial set of grants will really help to improve people's lives and I'm also pleased that further funding is now available, so we encourage any eligible SMEs interested in these exciting grant-funding opportunities to get in touch."

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 Tuesday, February 12.