The European Social Fund (ESF) is a European Union scheme which aims to extend employment opportunities to everyone.

Some workless people are a long way from the job market, and are not ready for the mainstream education and training programmes funded by ESF.

The scheme therefore includes a small grants programme, Community Grants, which will help local groups deliver basic employment skills and experiences to these people.

This means voluntary sector organisations with an annual turnover of less than £100,000 can apply for up to £12,000 to run projects that meet the following criteria:

Participants must be:

Unemployed (less than 8 hours paid work a week)

Priority:
Black & Minority Ethnic
Ex-offenders
Over 50’s
Disabled
Homeless
Lone parents
Carers

Ineligible:
Under 19’s

Projects must be:
helping people move closer to work

Priority:
Removal of barriers: for example mentoring, first
contact activities, or appointing community
champions
Non-accredited learning: for example taster work
experience including volunteering, or help with
basic skills and sessional training
Soft skills: for example, confidence building,
presentation or communication skills
Accredited learning: for those who cannot be
reached by any mainstream provision

Ineligible:
Literacy or numeracy support
Duplication of mainstream learning

Funding
Must be:
Full project cost recovery

Priority:
Staff costs
Child care
Travel
Training
Materials
Volunteer expenses
Room hire
Publicity

Exclusions:
Capital expenditure

An application form may be downloaded from this website (located under Application Forms) or alternatively call 0121 700 3934