Project Towpath ESF Community Grants

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Project Towpath- ESF Community Grants
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Purpose of Programme

• To provide grant funding to small third sector
  organisations supporting individuals in the
  community to move closer to the Labour Market.

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Project Details

• Total value of GM Programme 796,325
• Maximum individual Project award 12,000
• Support 92 Groups, 920 learners
• Funding available October 2008-February 2010
• All projects to be completed by December 2010
• Target group People a long way from the labour
  market
• 22 participants with disabilities/health
  conditions
• 12 participants lone parents
• 18 participants aged 50
• 11 participants from an ethnic minority group

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Application Process

• The GMVSLC successfully completed the LSCs PQQ
  in Summer 2007.
• Range of Invitations to Tender received in
  December 2007.
• Community Grants Tender selected for
  deliverability, we genuinely met all the required
  criteria and had the ability to undertake the
  work effectively within Greater Manchester.
• Project designed utilising knowledge and
  experiences from other projects/initiatives
  worked on.
• Multi sub-regional approach, working as informal
  partners with other learning consortia.

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Getting ready to deliver

• Understanding and development of the evidence
  requirements (this is an ESF project with all the
  usual detailed requirements) previous experience
  of pitfalls was invaluable
• Development of systems that are Fit for Purpose
• Disseminating requirements to delivery groups in
  digestible formats.
• Region wide systems required that can be used by
  organisations with varying resources.

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What has worked well

• Publicity programme.
• Visits to applicant groups.
• Panel based assessment system.
• Unfunded commitment from panel members.
• Service Level agreements with groups.
• Enthusiasm and determination to deliver from
  groups.
• Particularly strong interest from BME
  organisations

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Examples of Projects

• English Conversation
• Sewing Classes
• Horticulture
• Theatre
• Animal care
• Independent Living
• Beauty
• Play and Sports activities

• Literacy support for parents of disabled children
• Arts for recovery
• People into care work
• Recycling

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Feedback from Groups

• Really appreciate the capacity building support
• Accessible process
• Can we apply again?
• Some groups were initially critical that we were
  engaging with the worklessness agenda, however
  most have an appreciation of reality and an
  understanding that employment will positively
  benefit their service users.

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Feedback from LSC

• GM has been highlighted as the sub-region that
  has worked most pro-actively to develop required
  systems and has done this so effectively that the
  auditor said she would be comfortable working in
  our office!
• Nearly half the funding has already been
  utilised, ahead of profile giving strong outcomes
  to the overall programme.
• At this point just over 2000 learners have
  engaged with projects, far more than expected for
  the whole programme.

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To find out more

• www.gmcvo.org.uk
• Click on Learning Consortium logo.
• Contact Gill Dixon, Community Grants Officer
• Contact Karen Rigg, Training Development Manager.