Programme 4 will be initially procured for 9 months, with a review for extension to a further two years after the initial procurement. The grant funding allocation over 9 months is £26,400.

Identified priority areas

• Strengthening communities
• Isolation and loneliness
• Access to support services
• Fuel poverty and cost of living impact
• Digital access & outreach
• Tackling inequalities

Specific aims

To provide employment advice and support in priority locations.

Key requirements

• To provide unemployed people with a place to meet and exchange skills, find opportunities, make contacts, share experiences and receive training and support in their quest to find work
• To work closely with statutory employment provision and VCS organisations
• Develop partnerships with key support services to provide a more comprehensive and holistic package to job-seeking clients
• Provide free internet, computer access and one-to-one online training
• Assist clients with job searches, job applications, CVs and benefit claims
• Include a provision for outreach in the targeted geographical areas

We invite applications that will use a place-based approach to improve the independence and resilience of the district’s most vulnerable residents through the provision of employment advice and support.

This fund is to be used for the benefit of

• Unemployed individuals, particularly those from the district’s targeted geographical areas, the homeless and ex-service personnel
• Residents who wish to develop their career to improve their situation
• Support for those furthest away from the labour market

We support the continuation of the community hubs in the designated priority areas, so expect the successful delivery organisations to work through those facilities and to contribute to their development as a ‘go to’ location for accessing services.

Programme delivery

Improve independence and resilience

• Reduce the impact of social exclusion by helping residents into employment
• Improve the confidence and capability of service users to find employment and thrive in work
• Help service users with health challenges to find and retain work
• Improve the wellbeing of service users

Ensure service is accessible to all

• Readily accessible to all residents, with local access via community hubs in the targeted geographical areas
• Recognise issues that may make it difficult for a person to accept employment or stay in work

Adopt a person-centred approach

• Adopt a process of assessment, support, and closure
• Be tailored to include activities that are relevant to the needs of the individual

Digital Inclusion

• Support service users to improve their confidence with computing and internet access
• Enable service users to improve their online safety
• Ensure access to digital skills training where required

Partnership work

• Make referrals to and work in tandem with other service providers to provide coordinated support for the service user
• Work with other service providers to create an integrated approach to the provision of support
• Focus on getting people into work by developing a network of sympathetic employers and placement providers

Promote volunteering

• Make use of volunteer resource and promote volunteering
• To provide opportunities for volunteering and work experience

Capacity, experience and knowledge

Applicants should evidence:

• Delivering coaching in job search, CV writing, job applications and interview techniques
• Ability to assess the support that will improve service users’ ability to find work
• Experience of providing information, advice, and signposting
• Proactive engagement with the hardest to reach
• Ability to assess support needs with service users and implement associated casework
• A track record of developing a network of contacts with employers who can provide taster work placements, volunteering opportunities and employment opportunities
• Experience of coaching and training to help individuals improve their skills and capability to secure employment
• Experience of coaching and training to help individuals improve their digital skills and online confidence

There is an expectation that proposed projects will

• Be actively marketed with practical measures to reach ethnically diverse communities and targeted to isolated individuals who do not usually engage with services, including the use of periodic marketing campaigns
• Include activities that are relevant to the individual needs, where necessary, provided by other organisations
• Make referrals to and work in tandem with other service providers to provide coordinated support for the service user
• Work with local community groups, making use of local knowledge, networks and trust and engaging volunteer resource and promoting volunteering