Work & Skills Funding Opportunities

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.

Through the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer pilot we are offering funding opportunities to enable local organisations to lead personalised approaches to reducing economic inactivity. A person is identified as being economically inactive if they are not in employment, have not sought work within the last four weeks and/or are unable to enter the workforce in the next two weeks. The target group includes, but is not limited to, people with long-term health conditions as well as those with caring responsibilities, people looking after a family/home, overseas nationals unable to claim Jobseeker benefits but who have the right to work in the UK, or people who have left the labour market early and are at risk of pensioner poverty.     

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

If you're able to deliver offers which support people aged 16+ who economically inactive, then express your interest here or go straight ahead and complete an application here.

Find out more about Trailblazer requirements on the downloads section below (Funding Guidance) on the dedicated gov.uk web pages and contact us via pathways@doncaster.gov.uk with any questions.

The People and Skills Strand of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund is designed to support a wide range of employment-related initiatives at the local level, helping to improve skills, create jobs, and boost local economies. 

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 here or go straight ahead and complete an application here.

Find out more about UKSPF requirements on the downloads section below (Funding Guidance) on the dedicated gov.uk web pages and contact us via pathways@doncaster.gov.uk with any questions.

Organisations are also able to apply for grants which are jointly funded by the Economic Inactivity Trailblazer and UKSPF People & Skills. These funding opportunities are to support delivery of activity and services which aim to support both economically inactive and SPF-eligible individuals. The aim of this is to fund provision which can be more inclusive and which meets the needs of a broad cohort of individuals. Successful grants will be those which can evidence their ability to meet the outputs/outcomes as set out in both of the previous two sections. Please see the guidance document below for further details.

If you're able to deliver offers which support people aged 16+ who are employed or unemployed, as well as those who are economically inactive then express your interest here or go straight ahead and complete an application here.

Alternatively, if you would like to ask any questions, please contact our friendly team at pathways@doncaster.gov.uk

Grant funding to support organisations to deliver Remake Learning Days activities as part of Learning for Life Weeks. 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.

Learning for Life grants are currently 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. These events could be family focused, if intergenerational learning is the format of the session. 

Learning for Life Weeks are locality-based ‘pop-up’ events which will take place throughout the year. These are designed to reach specific communities and cohorts with targeted learning opportunities. The first planned Learning for Life Week will take place in Hexthorpe and the surrounding Balby area from 13th to 16th October 2025. 

Activities should be designed to build confidence, raise aspirations, and help participants discover new interests or talents. Whether through creative workshops, skills tasters, interactive demonstrations, or career-focused sessions, the goal is to provide participants with a platform to reflect on their potential and consider their next steps in learning or employment.

All funded sessions must be delivered within Hexthorpe or nearby areas, and must take place during the specified dates. The programme encourages collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to inclusive practice, ensuring that all participants—regardless of background or ability—can benefit from the opportunities on offer.

Applications for the Hexthorpe Learning for Life week will be open from the 4th August, with a closing date of the 15th September 2025.

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.

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.

There is currently no fixed closing date for application submissions.
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.

While specific requirements vary depending on the fund, applicants are generally expected to provide the following standard documentation:
• 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

Yes, applicants may apply for multiple funds if they meet the eligibility criteria for each.
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.

Yes, depending on the individual fund’s terms, and success of the previously funded activity. This is a test and learn approach and we are keen to build on ‘what works’.

Support is available by contacting our team via email, pathways@doncaster.gov.uk - we'll answer any questions and help signpost you to guidance documents as well as access to bid writing sessions.

Scheduled externally run drop-in sessions will also be available to help applicants prepare strong proposals. These dates will be displayed on this webpage - but you can contact our team anytime to learn more, email pathways@doncaster.gov.uk

• Ensure you meet all applicant eligibility criteria o Due diligence is a core requirement to support a success bid. Due diligence for each fund is quite substantive in comparison to historic funding streams.
• 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. Applicants must demonstrate financial stability, governance, and capacity to deliver the proposed project. Please download the Funding Guidance Document below for details, or email pathways@doncaster.gov.ukIf 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 

The Remake Learning Days agenda 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.