Groundwork London is administering Community Training Grants in the Dorset areas of the LEAP (London Economic and Action Partnership) funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency and the European Social Fund. 


The application window for ESFA Community Training Grants is now closed.

About ESFA Community Training Grants

Community Training grants between £5,000 and £20,000 are available for projects supporting people who are unemployed or economically inactive, move closer towards employment.

We fund a range of innovative projects which help prepare participants for work by providing opportunities to learn and upskill in anything from industry-specific training to developing soft-skills. Participants must be over 16 years or age and eligible to work in the UK.

Watch our video to see some of the projects we’ve funded:


Eligibility
  • Applicants must be either third sector organisations or small organisations (less than 49 employees).
  • Your organisation must have an annual turnover of less than €10 million Euros, please see currency convertor.
  • Participants must be over 16 years of age and eligible to work in the UK.

If you want to receive the latest grant programme news and updates, click on the link below to register.

Sign up to our mailing list

If you have any queries or questions about your application, please do get in touch with the grants team on communitytraininggrants@groundwork.org.uk or call 020 7239 1390

We also have a recording of one of our previous sessions available to watch in your own time. You may access this training using the link below.

Recorded Training

Please note we are expecting the competition to increase as the programme continues, so we recommend applying as soon as possible.

Update
  • Our easy-to-use online application portal has been updated based on feedback from previous grantees to better support applicants with their applications.
  • We’ve updated the payout structure to include 40% on the award of your grant, an additional 40% during delivery of the project and 20% on completion.

In light of COVID-19: Groundwork is in contact with funders in relation to making reasonable adjustments for applicants/grantees where possible. We will provide updates as we get them and advise organisations to deliver in line with government guidelines. If you have any queries please do get in touch with our team on communitytraininggrants@groundwork.org.uk.


Community Training Grants in Dorset

In Dorset, there are communities and groups that have difficulty accessing the labour market. In rural areas low population density means that there are difficulties with access to employment and training. Within urban areas of Dorset, some residents are second and third generation unemployed, and therefore face greater barriers to accessing employment and training.

Through the Community Training Grants projects can support individuals through a range of formal and informal training which can offer vocational skills or softer skills such as building confidence or dealing with anger management.

Dorset includes the following local authorities:

  • Dorset Council
  • Bournemouth, Poole, and Christchurch Council

Guidance on how to apply

Before beginning your application, we suggest that you read through the guidance documents provided below. These documents are designed to help you put together a strong application and to ensure that your organisation and project meets the eligibility criteria. You can then complete the Expression of Interest form below to start your application with us and get further support.

The prospectus provides a comprehensive overview of the scheme:

ESFA Prospectus

The application window for ESFA Community Training Grants is now closed.


About the Funders

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) is accountable for funding education and skills for children, young people and adults.

The European Social Fund (ESF) invests in opportunities across the European Union, with a focus on improving employment and education.

ESFA and ESF are co-financing Community Training Grants to offer skills, training and employment opportunities for individuals who are unemployed or economically inactive.

For more information contact communitytraininggrants@groundwork.org.uk – 020 7239 1390.

Case Studies