Reaching more communities

Lots of people spoke out in favour of open or demand-led programmes during our recent Big thinking consultation.  In England Reaching Communities is the largest such programme, where groups can apply for between £50,000 and £500,000 for a period of up to five years.

Today we have announced another 18 awards totalling close to £5million for voluntary and community organisations working with some of our most vulnerable and excluded people.  The full list of awards is available here but to highlight just three:

A brand new project helping disabled young people in York is soon to get off the ground as The Children’s Society is awarded £283,076. The new scheme will help them to take part in a range of volunteering opportunities, increasing their skills and confidence and preparing them for adulthood and employment.

Hillcroft College in Surbiton has been given a grant of close to £500,000 to extend its unique educational opportunities programme to help disadvantaged women secure opportunities to enter higher education and training across England.

Another exciting project, bringing older and younger people together to learn and work receives an award of  £325,109. County Durham Intergenerational Network, launched by Age Concern Durham County (ACDC) will develop new inter-generational healthy eating activities with local schools, including the cultivation of fresh vegetable allotments and beehive production. Older people will share traditional craft skills with local youngsters who will in return pass on their own valuable skills, including IT-based communications.