ESF Big Lottery Funding Worth £18m To Help Cornwall Into Work

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has received £18.6m of European Social Funding from the Big Lottery Building Better Opportunities project.  The funding will enable a programme of support that will help people improve their employability skills and progression into employment.  The investment is part of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Growth Programme.

The work across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is split into four distinct areas; South East Cornwall, Atlantic and Moor, Coast to Coast and, West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  Whilst each area has a lead delivery organisation, they all have a significant partnership network that offers a huge wealth of experience and expertise in Cornwall.

The projects are focussed on helping people into employment.  They are aiming the support at people who face multiple barriers to engagement and for who, getting back into to work isn’t necessarily straight forward.  To help achieve this, participants will get support through a tailored approach that suits each individual.  This might be through group workshops, one to one support, coaching and mentoring or work experience.

Bob Egerton Cornwall Council Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture, said, “This European Social Funding from the Big Lottery is so important for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.  For some, getting into work isn’t easy so providing this level of support, targeted at the most vulnerable is excellent.  If this project can help people into employment then it will also improve their quality of life for them and their families”.

Kate Reed, Head of Employability and Pathways at RIO leads the Game Changer project, said, “Game Changer is not only about innovative approaches to the future of yet to be discovered talented young people across Cornwall now but is about creating pathways for future generations that work for young people, employers and the community of Cornwall.

Getting Involved

If you would like to be involved in the project or you know someone who would, please contact;

West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly – Who Dares Works – whodaresworks@activeplus.org.uk or call 01872 300 236

Coast to Coast (Camborne, Redruth, Falmouth) – Positive People – zena.gardener@pluss.org.uk

Altantic and Moor (Newquay, Bodmin, Bude) – Working Together

South East Cornwall – Positive People – zena.gardener@pluss.org.uk

Gamer Changer (Young people in all Cornwall and Isles of Scilly) – kate.reed@realideas.org