How the Community Matters Fund (Future Skills 2026) is helping our community

LU: You’ve just received funding from the Community Matters Fund (Future Skills) 2026 from National Grid and Localgiving. Can you tell us some more about the project, what it will help fund and what it aims to deliver.

MB: The Making changes project will champion local skills and employment by providing an holistic solution. The project aims to remove barriers and move closer to employment and increase skills. A Journey Guide will support participants on their journey to work and/ or training by removing barriers, e.g. low confidence, no access to childcare. Participants will have an initial assessment to identify any gaps and barriers to move them towards employment and training.

The following solutions will be offered: Confidence training and motivation supported by a confidence building program, employment training including CV writing, interview techniques and job searching, practical training e.g. food hygiene, access to digital skills training  via learn my way IT sessions, access to voluntary work or work placements and support to access any required training

These interventions will move participants closer to employment and/ or training. Participants will become economically active by overcoming obstacles that have kept them from work. So we’d like to say a big thank you to National Grid for making this possible through the Community Matters Fund.

The outputs achieved include: 65 Participants supported, 60 supported to gain employment skills, 45 engaged in job searching, 35 referred to basic skills training, 35 accessed work skills training, 40, 35 have increased confidence, 16 gain volunteering experience and 8 are supported to gain employment.