Up to £2.1 million new funding for VCSE sector

WECA (The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority) have announced an exciting new initiative for VCSE organisations to further support young people across our region.

A new West of England VCSE Fund will offer around £700,000 a year for up to three years - the VCSE Flexible Support Fund - helping join-up support for young people aged 18-21 who are not in education, employment or training.

Since the launch of WECA's regional Youth Guarantee Trailblazer programme, around 400 young people have already been supported through the pilot project. 70 of those young people have already been supported into paid employment including apprenticeships or into education and training, thanks to the partnerships with local employers, and another 200 more are being supported to help make that next step.

Now, they’re excited to announce plans to work more closely with the local VCSE sector as the Youth Guarantee evolves over the coming years – bolstered by trusted relationships with local communities, helping provide tailored support to another 1,100 young people.

VCSE organisations be able to apply as a single organisation or as a consortium, and the funding grants will be flexible. 

To find out more, please join Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, at an event at Engine Shed in Bristol on Monday 2 March from 10am to 12 noon. Click here to reserve your space.