Introduction:
Gateshead Council is investing £161k via UK Shared Prosperity Fund investment priority People and Skills to deliver Community Grants Gateshead in 2023/24.
The objectives of this investment priority include boosting core skills and supporting unemployed and inactive adults aged 16+ to progress into work by targeting adults with no or low-level qualifications and skills, and reducing levels of economic inactivity and improving employment outcomes for specific cohorts who face labour market barriers.
In context:
- the average household income in Gateshead is nearly £11k less than the average across England.
- 71.7% of the working age population (16-64) of Gateshead residents are in employment which compares to an average of 75.5% for England
- 22% of Gateshead residents have no qualifications compared with 18% in England, and 28% have level 4 qualification or above compared with 34% in England
- 22% of residents in Gateshead have no qualifications compared with 18% in England
We are seeking applications from voluntary, community and social enterprise Organisations (VCSE’s)* for grants of up to £20k who can deliver projects within Gateshead that:
- Engage ‘hard-to-reach’ residents in learning through Voluntary and Community Sector organisations service delivery activities.
- Equip people with the skills needed for life and work including basic skills (digital, English, ESOL and maths), life skills and career skills.
- Help people build confidence, motivation, and a sense of purpose through learning activities and social connections
- Develop innovative approaches to attract underrepresented participant groups into learning.
For a grant of £20k, we would expect organisations to deliver a project to 10 to 15 learners.
Eligibility:
Organisations applying for this funding must be a VCSE * (definition below) and must satisfy the following criteria:
- Have a delivery base within Gateshead and be already working with Gateshead residents.
- Have up to date policies and procedures that are relevant and adhere to the current legislative requirements for Equality and Diversity, Health and Safety and Safeguarding and prevent.
- Can confirm and evidence current cash and credit position and agree to their organisation being credit checked and for the results of this check to be used in the evaluation process.
To apply, please read the eligibility criteria to ensure you are eligible and can satisfy the funding criteria. Read the specification, application guidance and scoring framework, complete the application form and send to cscllukspfcommunitygrantsgateshead@gateshead.gov.uk.
There is no closing date for applications, we will keep the window open for as long as funding remains. We are happy to discuss your application with you; we are happy to review drafts before you submit, or when you submit, if we feel you could improve your idea or have any suggestions, we will come back to you – there is no pass or fail for this project.
Please share application information to any VCSE Organisations you work with who may also be interested, and direct any questions to: cscllukspfcommunitygrantsgateshead@gateshead.gov.uk.
*VCSE organisations: GMBC definition
25.1 GMBC define an VCSE organisation as: VCSE means an incorporated voluntary, community or social enterprise organisation which serves communities within England, and which is either:
- a charity, Community Interest Company or Community Benefit Society, registered with the relevant registry body; or
- an unregulated organisation which:
(i) has a clear social mission which, in the reasonable opinion of the Fund Administrator, is analogous to a recognised charitable purpose.
(ii) distributes less than 50% of post-tax profits and reinvests at least 51% surpluses into pursuing its social mission.
(iii) has a constitutional or contractual lock on its social mission, its dividend and surplus distribution policy and “asset-lock”.
(iv) carries out, or has ambitions to carry out, trading activities in support of and which are causally linked to its social mission.
(v) offers its products and services for general public benefit without restrictions and barriers, such as affordability.
(vi) is open to undertaking an independent social impact audit.
(vi) has remuneration and benefits policy which it is willing to make publicly accessible, and which is reasonable and proportionate relative to the market practice for VCSEs.
(vii) in the case of a sale of the organisation, the directors make best efforts to preserve the social mission under new ownership; and
(viii) can demonstrate that no private benefit will arise from the Grant.
25.2 Activity must be delivered within Gateshead