ESF Community Grants – The End of an Era

For the longest of time (2008 to be precise!) Better Connect have managed ESF Community Grants across North Yorkshire. Community Grants enabled partners to access up to £20,000 grants to deliver a wide range of different provision to unemployed or economically inactive individuals with the aim to move them closer to the labour market.

Community Grants didn’t just do that though.. It transformed lives.

Many different types of projects were successful through this funding. From supporting people with trauma to regain a sense of purpose, gardening and understanding sustainability, formal qualifications such as sage and working with veterans to learn about woodcraft.

Community Grants 5 was delivered from September 2019 until December 2022, partners faced the challenge of Covid-19 meaning that organisations were supporting individuals who were isolated, struggling and vulnerable. Partners were adaptable and many switched their delivery to remote, continuing to offer the same high-quality provision that they would have done in person.

Despite the challenges, we are still so pleased with the impact of CG5..

• 67 individual grants awarded to local partner organisations across North Yorkshire
• Over £1 million pounds awarded in grants 
• 1200 individuals supported to move closer to the labour market
• 200 individuals supported in employment or further education

With ESF funding coming to an end, Community Grants funding has now finished and we wanted to send a huge thank you to all of our partners that have been involved throughout the years.

The support you have given to individuals through this funding has been incredible and we hope that we will be able to find some similar funding to allow this support to continue in the future!