CLOSED: At risk of NEET and NEET provision in Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area (OC12S19P1442)

Call to run a project targeting and supporting young people aged 15-24 who are identified as 'at risk of becoming NEET' in the GBSLEP area.

This call is now closed. Please do not submit an application for this call. The information provided on this page is for reference purposes only.

Details

  • This call is primarily aimed at targeting and supporting young people who live in the ‘more developed’ area of Birmingham and Solihull LEP (Birmingham, Solihull, Redditch, Bromsgrove, and Wyre Forest) aged 15-24 who are identified as at risk of becoming ‘Not in Education Employment or Training’ (NEET). It also prioritises supporting marginalised (disconnected from mainstream activity) 15-18 year olds to help them transition into the labour market or stay in the education system.

  • Due to interlinkages with on-going support mechanisms, there is an expectation that some activity may also target and support young people who are identified as NEET between the ages of 16-24.

  • It is important that applicants can show that they have considered how their proposal for supporting young people ‘at risk of becoming NEET’ and ‘NEETs’ is strengthened with work experience and job creation; as well as how activities will complement and work alongside the Birmingham & Solihull Youth Employment Initiative for NEETs ‘Youth Promise Plus’.

Local Priorities:

GBSLEP is looking for a range of innovative interventions that can be tailored to meet the needs of the target audience in the whole area. The following list indicates the types of activities we expect to be supported:

  • improved identification and tracking of NEETs, those at risk of becoming NEET and marginalised 15-18 year olds;
  • extending the reach of services through improved LMI reporting, to support and improve Careers Education Information Advice Guidance provision – including outreach activities;
  • personalised case-loaded approach to support young people, including coaching and mentoring;
  • improved employability skills provision;
  • measures to assist young people secure skills support and accredited training;
  • supported work experience, placements and internships, to form a “work anchor” (encompassing both paid and structured volunteering opportunities) that develop the skills and track record of individuals and to act as “demonstration/trial” environments for recruiting partner employers linked to job matching and after care support;
  • involvement in direct experiences of the workplace and/or other learning environments;
  • enterprise skills as a credible route out of unemployment, including advice, support and guidance, and financial incentives for self-employment, business start-up, social enterprise and freelance activity (particularly in sectors such as IT and creative). This will build on and extend the geographical spread of existing provision in the GBSLEP area;
  • a focus on tackling in an holistic manner the multiple barriers and complex needs of individuals, particularly those from marginalised and vulnerable/target groups including Care Leavers, members of gangs, homeless young people, young lone parents, Young Offenders (and those at risk of offending), young people with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND), and young people with learning difficulties/disabilities;
  • mental health, anxiety, depression interventions, including support for young people with emotional, confidence, behavioural and social difficulties;
  • brokering opportunities with employers and matching young people to vacancies, particularly in the LEP growth sectors and sectors with significant job replacement;
  • bespoke programmes such as sector specific pre-apprenticeship programmes aligned to growth and providing support not available elsewhere (e.g. driving qualifications, kit and equipment, matching young people to employers);
  • addressing additional barriers and support - such as transport costs, childcare costs, accommodation;
  • re-engagement and transition support and assisting participants with their personal and social skills;
  • increasing young people’s exposure to industry including via traineeships, forthcoming T-Levels and apprenticeships;
  • capturing learning and good practice that leads to sustainable interventions and measures to reduce the number of residents ‘at risk of becoming’ NEET.

For more information, download the call specification.

Location

The project must cover the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP Area.

Value

Approximately £3,000,000 of ESF is available.

Deadlines

Full application deadline: 02/09/2019

Completion date

Projects must be completed no later than 3 years and 6 months after the proposed project start date, however the ESF Managing Authority reserves the right to vary the maximum duration in exceptional circumstances. All ESF Projects must be completed by 31st December 2023. Project costs cannot be incurred beyond this date.

Full Application Submission

To apply for funding under this call you will need to complete and submit your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT System.

Full Applications submitted in the ECLAIMS IT System after the call closing date shown above and on the call specification will not be appraised.

If you do not already have access to the ECLAIMS IT system, please request an ‘ECLAIMS External Access Form’ by emailing E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.uk

You will need to request an External Access Form for each person in your organisation who requires access.

It is your responsibility to ensure you request and activate your ECLAIMS access in sufficient time. We strongly advise that you obtain and activate your ECLAIMS access at least 2 weeks prior to the advertised call closure date, if not sooner.

You are also advised to read the details in the call specification in order to produce an application that complies with the requirements and meets the needs set out in the ESF Operational Programme. All this information, the related guidance and the European Social Fund Operational Programme can be found from our homepage.

The published ESF Online Full Application Guidance also provides step-by-step advice on how to complete your Full Application using the ECLAIMS IT system. ESF Online Full Application Guidance.

Technical Support

If you encounter any technical difficulties completing or submitting your Full Application via the ECLAIMS IT system, please send an email to E.CLAIMSSUPPORT@dwp.gov.uk

The technical support operating hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm and it is your responsibility to ensure you seek and technical advice in sufficient time to complete and submit your Full Application before the published call closure date.

The Managing Authority reserves the right to reject applications which are incomplete or not submitted in a timely and compliant way.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the Call Specification or ESF Online Full Application Guidance, please contact esf.2014-2020@dwp.gov.uk. This address should not be used to request technical support.

Published 10 June 2019
Last updated 3 September 2019 + show all updates
  1. At risk of NEET and NEET provision in Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP area (OC12S19P1442) project call is now closed.

  2. First published.