A transformational £5m employment and skills programme will empower Greater Manchester’s residents to reach their future goals.
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has launched its Community Grants Programme, which will address barriers that may prevent local people from accessing the city-region’s varied employment and learning programmes.
Managed by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) on GMCA’s behalf, Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) organisations and Housing Associations will have the opportunity bid for funding of up to £100,000 to invest in a flexible and free local offer, ensuring support is targeted to those who need it most – in particular residents with basic entry level qualifications.
Applications for the first round of funding will open by the end of October 2023.
As well as supporting residents to overcome barriers that may prevent them from accessing learning opportunities, the programme will offer capacity building support to smaller VCSE organisations so the programme can benefit as many grass-roots groups as possible.
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Greater Manchester’s lead for Technical Skills and leader of Bury Council said: “Our new Greater Manchester Community Grants Programme is a step forward to achieving our ambitions of developing a responsive, integrated labour market that enables all people to achieve their full potential.
“It’s a long-term commitment to supporting residents who want to progress their learning or move into employment but for various reasons may be unable to or unsure how to get started.
“VCSE organisations are critical to engaging those furthest away from the labour market and after speaking with the sector about current education, work and skills support, we have used their feedback to influence this programme.
“We’ll work closely with WEA and other partners including local authorities throughout so that support responds to emerging needs and reaches those who need it most and is delivered in the heart of communities.”
