This scheme is designed to help local people on their path towards volunteering and employment. This round is funded through both the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and a Section 106 Agreement relating to the Panattoni Park Aylesford development.
A total allocation of £60,000 (£35,000 UKSPF and £25,000 S.106) has been given towards local employment training and business promotion to support the borough economy.
The fund aims to support innovative projects that achieve at least one of these goals
- Helping unemployed people to access local job opportunities including through basic skills courses.
- Supporting people furthest from the workplace with volunteering and enrichment activities.
- Tackling digital exclusion to help improve quality of life and access to services.
- Enabling Special Educational Needs (SEN) students to gain experience of the workplace.
While projects supporting residents across the borough are welcome, those focused on priority areas in the north (East Malling, Snodland, and Aylesford) are particularly encouraged due to their proximity to the Panattoni Park Aylesford site.
Who can apply?
This fund is open to applications from:
- Public sector organisations
- Charitable organisations
- Housing associations
- Training providers and local colleges
Organisations can apply for a grant of up to £8,000 (up to 75% of total eligible costs) towards their project.
How to apply
The scheme is open to applications from Thursday 8 May until Wednesday 18 June at 5 pm.
Read the guidance notes before applying. A sample form can be viewed here.
Apply to the people and skills fund
Your application must be completed in one sitting, as there is no option to save and return to your form at a later point. Therefore, we advise you to have all responses and documentation ready before starting your application, including uploading the following:
- A brief portfolio of organisational experience and project delivery
- A recent bank statement (within the last three months) showing bank details and transactions
Please note, decisions on applications are made by the grant panel only after the 18 June deadline.
If you need any further information, please contact the Economic Regeneration Team .