Jobseekers in West Cumbria are receiving a helping hand to find work, thanks to grant funding totalling more than £40,000.
The Programme and Project Partners (PPP) Social Impact Fund – managed by Cumbria Community Foundation, and funded by Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd, Amentum Clean Energy Ltd, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, and Altrad Babcock Ltd – was set up last year.
It aims to enable access to educational and training activities that raise career aspirations; support individuals in becoming work ready; facilitate entry into meaningful employment; and remove barriers to employment and economic participation.
Since then, £42,520 has been awarded to projects across West Cumbria.
Social enterprise Time to Change West Cumbria has received £10,000 to support individuals seeking work. The funding could provide a bicycle or bus pass for travel to work trials, a CSCS card needed to work on a construction site, or other essential equipment.
Rachel Holliday, chief executive, said: “We are delighted to be awarded £10,000 from the PPP Social Impact Fund to continue to help local people in need in our area.
“So many people are struggling financially with the cost of living crisis and are just not able to make ends meet. By supporting people into work and helping them sustain their employment, we can help many people move towards a better life and a brighter future.”
People First Independent Advocacy has been awarded £10,000 towards funding a job coach to support staff with learning disabilities and/or autism at Harbour Place Community Cafe in Workington.
Revive Furniture Recycling has received £10,000 towards the cost of delivering a community training and employment project to residents in Copeland who are NEET, unemployed, or facing multiple barriers.
And Whamos Training and Development in Millom has been awarded £2,520 to cover staff costs for delivering one-to-one and small-group sessions in Digital Skills, English, Maths, Life Skills and Employability.
Last year, £10,000 was awarded to Goodlives, a charity that runs training centres for adults facing long-term unemployment, social exclusion or poor mental health, in Cleator Moor and at West Lakes Science Park, near Whitehaven.
The grant helped to fund a project trainer to provide support for adults to improve their skills and self-confidence and help with their job search.
The PPP is a 20-year partnership established by Sellafield Ltd in 2019 to deliver major infrastructure projects.
Other businesses have now stepped forward to contribute to the fund, seeing the impact it is having in transforming lives in West Cumbria.
Global AI-powered digital transformation leader Atos, which has a base in Whitehaven, has donated £5,072 to the fund.
Phil Lazell, account director at Atos said, “As a business with roots here in West Cumbria, we strongly believe in supporting the local community. We’re delighted to be able to help the team at PPP in the vital work they do, removing barriers for people to get back into meaningful and fulfilling work.”
Bauer Technologies has contributed £500 to the fund.
The PPP Social Impact Fund is also open to applications from individuals, particularly those facing complex barriers to employment or living in areas of high deprivation.
Grants of up to £2,000 are available for individuals aged 18 and over, living in the former boroughs of Allerdale and Copeland.
Applicants must have the backing of a recognised professional, such as a support worker or teaching professional.
Steve Harnwell, PPP managing director, said: “I’m delighted to see our latest grants being awarded to such a mix of amazing community organisations. Each is doing incredible work investing in skills, training and giving people the confidence to pursue meaningful work.
“Our Social Impact Fund helps them to deliver this vital work by removing barriers to employment and creating opportunities that make a lasting difference to people’s lives.”
Dr Jenny Benson, director of programmes & partnerships at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to work with Partnership and Project Partners to ensure this funding reaches those who need it most.
“We know many people in West Cumbria face significant barriers to securing employment and this fund is making a real difference, providing practical support where it is most needed.”
Find out more about the fund at https://www.cumbriafoundation.org/fund/programme-and-project-partners-ppp-social-impact-fund/.
For further information on applying to the fund, contact the grants team on 01900 825760 or email [email protected].
