Nine community projects aimed at supporting residents to take steps towards finding work have been awarded funding through Trafford Council.
Grants totalling £145,000 have been given out to empower over 300 people to pursue work opportunities and find greater independence under the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer programme.
A range of voluntary, community, faith organisations and social enterprises have been handed funding in a major new wave of local initiatives to tackle long-term unemployment.
They will work directly with people in Old Trafford, Partington, Sale Moor, Sale West, Stretford and other locations, who face complex and multiple barriers to work.
Each project will offer support to help build confidence, skills, and readiness for work, as well as signposting to other services.
Priority groups include carers returning to employment, care leavers, over 50s, people from ethnic minority backgrounds and those with mental health challenges or physical disabilities.
Funding is part of a Greater Manchester-wide initiative backed by the Department for Work and Pensions and Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The successful projects, chosen via a panel process run by Trafford Community Collective, are:
Bluesci Support will improve wellbeing, confidence and social connections through its Gardening for Growth programme. Free protective clothing and gardening starter kits will be provided, to develop skills that could help participants to start a gardening business.
Flourish Together will run its Flourishing Futures enterprise and wellbeing schemes to unlock talent, raise aspirations and increase participation in education, training and employment. The scheme will also help people to connect with communities.
Manchester Deaf Centre will assist people who use British Sign Language to overcome complex barriers relating to everyday life or employability through skills training and confidence-building.
Voice of BME Trafford will work with minority groups and over 50s to rediscover inner strength, build confidence and regain momentum in participants’ personal and professional lives, addressing caring responsibilities, menopause and health conditions.
Through its Second Chances in Employment programme, Out There Supporting Families of Prisoners will work with people who have been involved in the criminal justice system, running a job club and providing one to one support to help people rebuild their confidence, access learning and move towards work.
United Response will support residents with learning disabilities and mental health needs with confidence-building and employability training to open up volunteering, training and employment opportunities.
Home-Start Trafford, Salford and Wigan will support those who have been out of employment due to caring responsibilities, to gain confidence and skills to move back towards jobs – particularly in early years settings – via structured learning, peer support and volunteer placements.
Rehoboth for Families, Children and Young People will work with residents to build confidence, dignity, employability skills and practical tools to re-enter employment, start a business or volunteer.
Through its Green Connections programme, Groundwork Greater Manchester will arrange wellbeing activities in the natural environment and careers information, advice and support, to explore opportunities in the growing green economy.
Cllr Liz Patel, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:
“There are a lot of local people who would love to take a course, train for a new role or look for work, but require some support to help them to get to that point. This funding will help Trafford residents in their local communities, in a range of different ways, to take steps towards pursuing goals and ambitions that could be life changing.
“We are delighted to work with our partners in local and national government and the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCSFE) sector to get new opportunities up and running.”