Local MP for Basingstoke has highlighted second round of funding worth £700,000 available from 1st February 2021 through the ‘Solent Supporting Employment’ Grant Programme. Community groups, charities and not-for-profit organisations can apply for grants of between £30,000 to £60,000, to support local people wanting to get back into employment. The first round of funding in Autumn last year supported 11 local organisations which shared grants worth £795,000.
The programme has been created by the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and is part-funded by the European Social Fund, with match funding provided by Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council and HIWCF donors. The focus is on helping people in areas where deprivation and unemployment are high.
Maria said “I welcome this funding opportunity for local organisations to help them deliver vital support for residents to get back into employment.
These grants will increase job prospects for local people and I applaud the hard work by all involved in this partnership to make this programme possible.”
The grants will enable organisations with a proven record in employability to offer new and innovative projects, enabling those from BAME communities, people with disabilities, and people marginalised by factors such as mental health, age, childcare needs and homelessness to move closer towards, or into employment.
Applicants planning to apply for this funding should register for one of the four briefing webinars taking place during February 2021, via
website www.hiwcf.com. The aim of the briefings is to ensure awareness of the differing funding criteria which varies across the Portsmouth, Southampton, Hampshire and Isle of Wight regions. Grants are available from the HIWCF website hiwcf.com/grants and
all applications should be submitted before the closing date at midnight on 1st March 2021.