Over £280,000 awarded in grants to support adult learning and skills development in Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Learning & Skills Fund, managed by Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, has awarded over £280,000 in grants to support the lifelong learning and skills offer for adults in Cambridgeshire, including Peterborough. 

It hopes to reduce inequalities in access to adult education. 

The Learning & Skills Fund has awarded 14 grants to local community and charitable organisations, including: 

• New Meaning Foundation – to deliver construction skills training for people not in employment, education or training, and other people with low essential skills. The support includes working towards accredited qualifications, interview practice and work experience in partnership with The Job Centre. 

• The Expert on Myself (TEOM) CIC – to work with neuro-diverse people to create training programmes, train them how to be a trainer, and support them to deliver training to organisations on how to be more inclusive of neurodiversity. 

• People & Animals UK CIC – to offer practical, functional skills training for 45 people with complex needs and disabilities. 

• Up The Garden Bath – to deliver digital literacy and lifelong learning opportunities for older people, as well as CV and further education/skills advice for people from disadvantaged communities in Peterborough. 

• Meadows Children & Family Wing – to provide employment skills training for women with young children in Kings Hedges and Arbury. 

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor Dr Nik Johnson said: “Our devolved control of the Adult Education Budget allows us to target skills funding to communities and groups who need it most. Whether it is boosting their opportunities for good jobs, or supporting them with the skills to improve their daily lives, this funding is set to make a real difference to people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.” 

Michael O’Toole, CEO at Cambridgeshire Community Foundation said: “I am delighted that the Foundation is working with Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority to deliver the Learning & Skills Fund.  

We know that developing learning and skills improves life chances and increases social mobility. Gaining new skills helps to reduce inequalities and may lead to new opportunities, but there is also strong evidence to show that lifelong learning can build confidence, self-esteem and improve health and wellbeing.” 

The Learning & Skills Fund will re-open for applications later in the year, following the completion of the funded pilot projects, which will inform how the fund supports projects in the second round of funding. 

To view other funding opportunities for local projects supporting learning, skills, and education, please visit: www.cambscf.org.uk/funds/