New Grant Programme To Support Grassroots Organisations Kick-Start Local Employment Initiatives

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Groundwork is inviting organisations in Coventry & Warwickshire and West Yorkshire to apply for grants of up to £20,000 to fund projects that will help local unemployed people towards a more positive future.


ESF Community Grants, funded by the European Social Fund, is a brand new programme that aims to support small and voluntary organisations with grants of £5,000 – £20,000 for local initiatives that will move unemployed people towards employment, training or back into education. The programme is being managed by Groundwork UK with delivery by local Groundwork Trusts across Coventry & Warwickshire and West Yorkshire.

Projects that are eligible for funding include activities that improve confidence and promote social integration -such as sports and gardening clubs -, the development of local support groups and networks, such as ‘Job Clubs’ and initiatives that to help personal development, such as assertiveness and motivational training.

A grants panels comprised of representatives from key local stakeholders will help to ensure that the funding reaches those projects who can make a real difference, to those who need it the most.

Graham Duxbury, national CEO of Groundwork said:

This is a great opportunity for organisations to support local efforts to help people towards a happier life. Small and voluntary organisations have the knowledge of the local area, understand needs of the local community and have the potential to deliver targeted and effective localised programmes of support. We look forward to seeing the positive results of the programme.


The programme will run from April 2019 with applications open until October 2020.


Notes to Editors

For further information, please contact Stacey Aplin, PR and Communications Officer on media@groundwork.org.uk or call 0121- 237-5815.

About ESF Community Grants

Groundwork is working in Coventry & Warwickshire and West Yorkshire to deliver ‘ESF Community Grants’ – a programme offering funding pots of between £5,000 to £20,000 to small and voluntary organisations to help unemployed people advance towards employment, education and training.

The programme will run from April 2019 and applications will be open until October 2020, with rolling grant panels throughout. ESF Community Grants are funded by the European Social Fund, commissioned by the Education and Skills Funding Agency, and are being managed by Groundwork in Coventry & Warwickshire and West Yorkshire with support from local Groundwork Trusts.

ESF Community Grants are delivered in partnership with Coventry & Warwickshire and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

About European Social Fund

ESF Community Grants has received £2,727,273 (West Yorkshire) and £1,636,364 (Coventry and Warwickshire) of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/european-growth-funding