Manchester Adult Education Service Community Learning Fund

The Community Learning Fund (CLF) is offering funding up to £167,000 to organisations who can reach disadvantaged communities and individuals in Manchester, to enable them to participate in learning and to progress towards further learning and/or sustainable employment.

The aim of the fund is to build the skills levels of Manchester residents while complementing other available provision and providing progression routes to further learning, employment and volunteering.

Who can be funded?
Funding is available to established organisations (see list below) who can target adults aged 19 and over who are out of work or excluded from the labour market for various reasons and people who have temporary, casual, part-time or low-skilled jobs who need to improve their skills and confidence to obtain a more secure place in the labour market.

Eligible organisations include:

• Voluntary and community unincorporated associations (e.g., community centre, group with a basic constitution)
• Registered charities
• Community benefit societies registered as industrial and provident societies
• Community interest companies or organisations of another type if you operate as a social enterprise and principally reinvest your surpluses for social benefit
• Any other organisation which has a written governing document and is managed by a board of governors, trustees or management committee

What can be funded?
The list below provides an overview of the kinds of activities the CLF would like to fund:

• Programmes which support learners to get involved in learning and to progress to further learning and employment (can include development of skills such as communication, motivation, independence, resilience, assertiveness, anger management and management of health issues and other barriers to learning)
• Programmes with an emphasis on work placements or voluntary work to enhance employability and/or community involvement (e.g., employability programmes with built in volunteer placements or community projects involving voluntary work)
• Programmes which develop sector specific and employability skills (e.g., introduction to health and social care or activities to help unemployed people to identify and evidence their skills and pathway to work)
• Programmes which address the UN Sustainable Development Goals, by raising awareness, increasing skills and empowering residents

Please refer to the Prospectus and Funding Guidance for further information and how to apply.

Deadline for Expressions of Interest (Stage 1): 12 May 2023, 12pm