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Grants of up to £20,000 are available to support people whose employment has been affected as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the local employment rate remains above average, employment across the country has seen a dip. From prolonged periods of furlough, to job losses and redundancies, 2020 presented an employment landscape never seen before, and as a result, regrettably, we are seeing a rise in unemployment rates.

Supporting employability skills development locally, the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership’s (SEMLEP) Community Grants programme will re-open for the fifth round of applications on 15 February 2021.

The programme offers voluntary, community and social enterprises (VCSE) grants of between £10,000 to £20,000 to deliver employability skills projects, helping vulnerable members of our community get back into work or training.

Organisations interested in applying for the programme are invited to attend an information webinar on 23 or 25 February 2021 to find out details on the programme, eligibility criteria and information on the application programme.

The programme is keen to receive applications that can be delivered virtually and inline with COVID-secure guidelines, targeting those who have recently been made redundant, particularly people over 50.

Are you eligible to apply for a grant through SEMLEP’s Community Grants project? 

• Does your organisation have less than £300,000 annual income?
• Does your organisation have fewer than 50 full-time equivalent paid employees?
• Are you able to demonstrate complete autonomy from any organisation that has in excess of £300,00 annual income or 50 or more full-time equivalent employees?
• Do you have a constitution of rules saying how your organisation is managed and what it does?
• Do you have a UK bank account?
• Do you have professional, employers and public liability insurance and public indemnity insurance?
• Is your organisation legally constituted?
• Do you have a legal structure that demonstrates that you are a VCSE organisation?
• Does your organisation support people in the areas listed below?

Geography: The European Social Fund and Education Skills Funding Agency awarded the Community Grants funding to SEMLEP on the basis of the ESF investment that was allocated in 2014. Therefore, the geographic basis upon which projects can apply reverts too: Milton Keynes, Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Daventry, South Northamptonshire, Cherwell, Aylesbury Vale, Bedford and Luton. 

For more information on the programme, events, or to express your interest, visit www.semlep.com/community-grants/ or email communitygrants@semlep.com.

The Community Grants programme is delivered by SEMLEP, supported by Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire and funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Unlike other ESF-funded programmes, no match funding is required so grants can cover 100% of the project costs.