Community Renewal Fund success: £703,000 for Wolverhampton’s Voluntary and Community Sector.
A consortium of 16 Voluntary organisations in Wolverhampton is one of only 8 projects across the West Midlands that has received funding from the Government’s Community Renewal Fund.
The award of £703,000 will allow the consortium to work together alongside people in our City who are facing barriers to gaining employment and skills.
Ian Darch, CEO of Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council, the accountable body for the project, said: “This is an opportunity for our brilliant voluntary and community sector to work together with local people so that they get access to the services that most suit them – it’s great that the Combined Authority and Central Government have both recognised the strength of this type of collaboration”.
The consortium includes a range of partners from across the city who are working together to provide tailored support to the challenges people face at a local level.
Josie Kelly, CEO of Access to Business said: “We are thrilled that Wolverhampton’s Voluntary Sector Community Renewal Fund application has been approved. Access to Business is looking forward to working in partnership with other local providers on this important project to improve the skills and opportunities of our City residents”
Reflecting on the successful bid and the opportunities it brings for skills and employment for people across the city, Adam Bhardwaj of Bilston Resource Centre (BRC) said: “We are pleased that BRC is part of the Community Renewal Fund, enabling funding to come into the local area of Bilston. It also adds value enabling us to address the needs and growing demands of our residents in Bilston, especially in light of the effects of the pandemic.”
The Community Renewal fund is a pilot programme for the Joint Prosperity Fund which replaces European Funding – delivery will start in January 2022.
To find out more about this funding or the Joint Prosperity Fund contact Ian Darch at WVSC on idarch@wolverhamptonvsc.org.uk.