Pathways to Work funding - NOW OPEN

Could your VCSE group help engage people who could benefit from support to improve their skills and employability?

As part of Pathways to Work South Yorkshire, voluntary and community groups in Barnsley can apply for grants that can engage residents who could benefit from extra support with their journey to employment.

The grant scheme is delivered as part of Pathways to Work South Yorkshire in partnership with Barnsley Council and the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority. The programme is funded by the UK Government through the Department for Work and Pension Trailblazers. South Yorkshire has been identified as one of the nine £125m backed ‘inactivity trailblazers’ across the country to address economic inactivity. As part of the £18m given to South Yorkshire, BMBC has distributed part of its cut to the VCSE sector due to the unique positioning of the sector and its relationships with the community.

We’re looking for groups that can implement innovative, holistic engagement approaches for people who face the greatest barriers to learning and work. These groups include people who are:

• currently out of work due to ill-health or caring responsibilities
• aged 16 to 24 at risk of not entering the labour market
• facing barriers to work such, people with a criminal record, veterans, refugees, or people who are experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping.

Individual groups can apply for grants of up to £15,000.  Collaborative applications can apply for a two-part grant of up to £30,000, three-part grants are also available for up to £45,000. Each organisation is limited to £15,000. Successful groups and organisations must be able to support the objectives outlined in the Grants Pack.

Applications open on Thursday 8th May and close on Friday 30th May 2025. Successful groups and organisations must be able to support the objectives outlined in the Grants Pack.

Download the application form here.

Download the Grants Pack here.

You can learn more about Pathways to Work at Barnsley.gov.uk/PathwaysToWork. Please email funding@barnsleycvs.org.uk for more information.