Work and Skills Funding Opportunities
This is your chance to make a difference and to change the way things are done to support local residents when it comes to Education, Employment, Health and Community opportunities across Doncaster.
What is Pathways to Work?
Pathways to Work is South Yorkshire's approach to bringing about system-wide change, in order to support people to overcome barriers to (re)entering or remaining in the workplace. This approach has a focus on aligning and integrating the delivery of health, employment and skills services to provide holistic, person-centred support.
Pathways to Work aligns funding across the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer, Health Growth Accelerator, Connect to Work, UK Shared Prosperity Fund (People and Skills), existing funded delivery and localised support offers, such as the Advance Employment Hub - to form a single, cohesive work and skills support system.
Locally in Doncaster we’re commissioning services, working with partners and recruiting to key roles that help us to test, learn and innovate at a local level; embedding our relational approach to working with employers and communities to support residents to thrive in life and work.
If you feel your organisation can make a real difference and provide a creative and innovative delivery offer across any of the four funding streams available now (detailed below) then please express your interest or contact our team via email with any questions, pathways@doncaster.gov.uk.
Express Interest
Funding streams available
There are currently four areas of funding available, read on below to find out more.
Economic Inactivity Trailblazer
We want to work with a range of partners to shape a strong, joined up local work, health and skills offer.
Can you provide support in a unique and different way?
Grant opportunities are available to organisations which are able to offer innovative services which deliver one or more of the following:
- Engaging people who are economically inactive
- Supporting economically inactive individuals to overcome barriers
- Supporting individuals to access sustainable employment opportunities
- Supporting employers to develop a more equitable and inclusive recruitment and employment offer
Learn more:
Contact our team to learn more about this funding stream at pathways@doncaster.gov.uk
Adult Skills Fund
The Adult, Family and Community Learning Service (AFCL) exists to provide local, accessible learning that improves the wellbeing, skills and knowledge of adults, their families and communities. It delivers direct provision through a range of courses including Functional Skills, Digital and ESOL whilst also providing more bespoke commissioned offers through the Adult Skills Fund.
Funding opportunities available through Adult Skills Fund
This funding gives you the chance to provide local, accessible learning that improves the health, wellbeing, skills and knowledge of individuals (aged 19+), families and communities. Non-accredited learning opportunities can cover courses that support individuals to step into learning rather than leading straight into a qualification. In terms of accredited learning opportunities, we are particularly interested in Level 1 and Level 2 courses which are sector-specific.
Anything you offer should:
- Engage and build learner confidence
- Act as preparation for further learning
- Act as preparation for employment
- Improve essential skills including English, ESOL, maths and digital
- Equip parents/carers to support children's learning
- Improve health and wellbeing
- Develop stronger communities
What we're looking for from you:
- Entry-level learning opportunities
- Level 1 and 2 sector-related courses
- Innovative delivery models and alternative approaches
- Activities that engage and support learners with low level skills
- Collaborative working
- Programmes of delivery
- Integrated non-accredited and accredited learning
- Clear learner progression demonstrated
If you feel you can support these types of learning opportunities, express your interest or get in touch via email with any questions, pathways@doncaster.gov.uk.
UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) - People and Skills
South Yorkshire’s approach to UKSPF is an integrated regional programme of bespoke pre-employment and in-work support activity designed to specifically break down barriers to labour market participation and ensure sustainable employment with scope for career progression.
Can you provide support in a unique and different way?
Grant opportunities are available to organisations which are able to offer innovative services which delivers one or more of the following:
- Supporting unemployed individuals to overcome barriers
- Supporting employed and unemployed individuals to access employment, self-employment and volunteering opportunities
- Supporting individuals to upskill and retrain
- Supporting individuals to sustain employment
If you're able to deliver offers which support people aged 16+ who are employed or unemployed, then express your interest in this funding.
Find out more about UKSPF on the dedicated Gov.uk web pages and contact us via pathways@doncaster.gov.uk with any questions.Remake Learning Grant Funding
This grant funding is available to support Doncaster and South Yorkshire based organisations to deliver events and activities as part of the Remake Learning Days agenda. Remake Learning Days is a concept that was brought by City of Doncaster Council to the UK for the first time in 2023. The agenda aims to bring together a diverse network of stakeholders to imagine a more engaging, relevant, and equitable future for learning and then work together to make it a reality.
Taking root in regions across the world, the Remake Learning Days offer delivers a series of family-friendly, free and low cost hands-on and interactive learning events for people of all ages at libraries, schools, tech centres, parks, museums, community centres and more. Each year the Remake Learning Days Festival acts as the centrepiece of the agenda, running for 10 days across May half term, with a series fun and engaging learning opportunities right across Doncaster.
In addition to the festival, each year there are a number of smaller-scale locality-based 'pop-up' activities and events and offers targeted at more specific cohorts. In each case, the aim of the offer is to spark curiosity, build confidence, raise ambitions, and invite people to consider their future learning and employment options.
What activities can I apply for a grant to run?
A range of grant-funding opportunities are available to support a range of different organisations to get involved in delivering Remake Learning Days activities. The activities you run must be engaging, inclusive, accessible, spark curiosity and passion and promote the development of both technical, practical, life and socio-emotional skills. They should also provide a platform for building confidence and to create opportunities for people to consider their future career, volunteering and learning options.
There are currently two different funding streams available:
- Remake Learning Days Festival grants: available support organisations to deliver activities and events as part of the May half-term festival. These activities can be for people of all ages to rediscover a love for learning outside of the classroom and join in to inspire curiosity, spark new passions and even discover new hobbies or future career options.
- Pathways to Work engagement grants: available to support organisations to deliver interactive learning/wellbeing activities to those aged 16+ with a particular focus on those not currently in employment (and who have a right to work in the UK). This is an engagement element for the local Economic Inactivity Trailblazer pilot, and therefore a key focus of these funds is to encourage people to access employment and skills support.
If you feel you can support these types of learning opportunities, express your interest or get in touch via email with any questions, pathways@doncaster.gov.uk.
Understanding more about the funding sources and maximum funding available under each:
Funding Source | Funding Stream | Max Funding Available (indicative) | Purpose | Target Audience |
Department for Work and Pensions | Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Pilot | Up to £3,000 per individual supported | Supports innovative projects aimed at reducing economic activity. | Economically inactive individuals |
Department for Education | Adult Skills Fund | Up to £25,000 per bid | Funds initiatives that enhance adult education, training, and skills development. | |
Ministry of Housing, Communities & local Government | UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) – People and Skills | Up to £50,000 per bid | Funding to boost core skills and support adults to progress in work, upskill the working age population, and encouraging innovative approaches to reducing adult learning barriers. | People aged 19+ |
The application process:
Stage one:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the online form here. You can also email: Pathway@doncaster.gov.uk
Stage two:
Complete the Full Application:
Once your Expression of Interest has been received and reviewed (we aim to process this within 7 days) - you will receive:
- A link to the relevant funding stream application form (hosted on Microsoft Forms)
- A folder where you can upload all required supporting documentation.
- A checklist to ensure you have complied with the relevant funding evidence requirements.
- A summary guidance overview to support you with your application form.
- A signed declaration form is required to complete your application form. You need to read and sign the declaration form and upload to your folder as part of your application submission.
Stage three - Following submission - how is my bid processed and what is the outcome?
An award application process will be followed for each application received. Each application will be assessed by a grant award panel following a scoring criterion. A decision will be made across the panel and then you will be informed if your application has been successful or unsuccessful. You will be informed of this decision within 28 days of submitting your application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What's the maximum funding available?
While these amounts given in the table are maximum amounts, we strongly encourage applicants to consider smaller-scale funding requests that enable broader delivery and engagement across Doncaster. Our aim is to support a wide range of innovative programmes that reach as many residents as possible. By applying for lower-cost funding with a strong delivery plan, you can help ensure that more participants benefit from the opportunities these funds are designed to provide.
What's the deadline for applications?
However, this may be subject to change. Applicants are advised to contact the funding administration team directly for the most up-to-date information, email: pathways@doncaster.gov.uk - and any changes will be emailed to anyone who has expressed an interest as well as added to this webpage, so be sure to check back regularly.
What supporting documents are required?
• A clear and concise overview of the proposed programme or support offer
• Details of the intended delivery location(s) and schedule
• A structured timeline outlining key milestones and activities
• Confirmation of the organisation’s ability to meet due diligence and compliance requirements
• A detailed and itemised financial breakdown of the proposed delivery costs
Can I apply for more than one funding stream?
There is also an opportunity to apply for joint funding across the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer and SPF programmes to enable providers to provide delivery offers that benefit multiple cohorts.
Can I reapply for the same fund?
What support is available?
Are there bid writing session drop-ins available?
What should I know before applying?
• Understand the fund’s objectives - ensuring your delivery offer, programme or support services aligns with the core funding missions. Please read the purpose outlined in the table and keep in mind that further support can be sourced for any areas of due diligence that you as a provider feel you may not be able to comply with, contact : -Dean Mangham (dean.mangham@doncaster.gov.uk) for direct support.
What are the due diligence requirements?
If you've thought of a question not listed here or you'd like some general help or advice, just drop us your details and contact number and we'll be in touch, pathways@doncaster.gov.uk
If you think you can provide innovative solutions to support these ambitions, then express your interest below.
For questions or assistance completing the expression of interest form, please email pathways@doncaster.gov.uk
Express Interest
Downloads & Resources
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