New Community Grants Programme launched

Published Wednesday, 19th June 2019

Small and third sector organisations are being urged to apply for a new Community Grants scheme, aimed at improving employment and social inclusion across the Tees Valley.

Hartlepool Borough Council has been awarded the contract to manage the £2.7m of total grant funding available through the Tees Valley Community Grants Programme, in partnership with the other four Local Authorities within the sub-region.

 
 
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Grants of between £10,000 and £20,000 available for eligible organisations to run individual projects, which must somehow support unemployed or inactive people aged 16 and above to enable them to progress towards employment, education or training.

The programme is jointly funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Councillor Christopher Akers-Belcher, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Regeneration Services Committee, said: “This grant funding will give eligible organisations the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to find local solutions to address the complex challenges of unemployment and social exclusion.

“We look forward to welcoming applications from a range of organisations, and seeing how their projects will make a real difference to improve the life chances of people across the Tees Valley.”

Jon Wright, Hartlepool Borough Council’s Project Coordinator for the programme, said: “This grant offers a number of third sector and other small organisations the opportunity to access European Social Funding that they may previously have been ineligible for.  

“Our team will be working closely with organisations who will be engaging with some of the hardest to reach communities and individuals, helping them to get back on their feet, secure employment or further learning and training and improve their future prospects.”

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For more details on eligibility criteria, how to apply and supporting documents can be found at www.hartlepool.gov.uk/esf-community-grants.

Organisations are also encouraged to contact a representative from the relevant Local Authority before submitting an application, to ensure that the proposed project will meet the specific local need. Details of each representative are available on the above webpage.

For further information, contact Hartlepool Borough Council’s dedicated ESF Community Grants Project Team by calling 01429 857074 or emailing ESF.CommunityGrants@hartlepool.gov.uk