A coalition of five Brighton and Hove charities has been awarded more than £400,000 of lottery and European Union funding to help unemployed adults find work.
The “Routes” partnership is being led by Community Works and includes the Bridge Community Education Centre, the Hangleton and Knoll Project, the Workers’ Education Association and the Whitehawk Inn.
The charities have been awarded £412,000 from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund to set up four projects in the area served by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
The project will be based in community venues in Hangleton and Knoll, Whitehawk, Moulsecoomb, Bognor, Worthing and Littlehampton.
Community Works said: “This partnership of five high-impact voluntary organisations in Brighton and Hove will provide new services for adults looking for support into employment by increasing their skills and employability.
“Those looking for work will be able to find intensive internship placements, local learning opportunities and employability focused information and advice.
“The partnership will collaborate, share learning and ensure impact and the new services will be integrated into existing community-based learning and linked to other support and activities.
“The partnership is currently recruiting for five new exciting posts – information about the roles can be found here.
“The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and European Social Fund and runs from now until February 2019 and will be launched to stakeholders on (Thursday) 1 December.”
Community Works chief executive Sally Polanski said: “Community Works is delighted to lead this partnership.
“This is an exciting opportunity for the five organisations to collaborate, share learning and make a greater impact on those furthest from the labour market.
“We have very strong and well-established relationships with the delivery partners and also with stakeholders across the voluntary, business and public sectors that are essential to the success of this initiative.”
Community Works aims to ensure that voluntary and community action has the greatest positive impact on people in the local area.
It provides support to more than 500 charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises in Brighton and Hove, Adur and Worthing, all of which are working to improve the lives of thousands of people every day.
The Bridge Community Education Centre delivers practical and leisure courses and workshops, some of which are subsidised to benefit the surrounding community and those on benefits.
They also offer learning and job-related advice as well as practical one-to-one sessions dealing with key issues such as literacy and money management.
The Hangleton and Knoll Project works with residents to help them access resources and services, develop groups and bring about positive change in their community.
It runs specific projects supporting the health, education and social needs of young people, black and minority ethnic residents and older people alongside opportunities for the whole community to come together.
It also provides regular IT classes to help residents to get online and has a small free training programme to support volunteering.
The Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) runs more than 1,400 courses each year in the south east of England. It prioritises learners who are socially, economically or educationally disadvantaged.
WEA classes are delivered in the heart of local communities, with courses aimed at reducing social exclusion including health, family learning and citizenship.
The Whitehawk Inn provides information and advice about learning and work, a programme of practical and leisure courses and weekly careers and job search sessions led by qualified careers advisers. It also offers financial advice through the Moneyworks project.
