Coalfields Support
Allerdale Borough Council has been able to
access (or support external groups to access) Coalfields funding
streams over a number of years.
Projects have been wide ranging but have
common themes around tackling worklessness through creating
employment opportunities, stimulating market growth or advice and
guidance to support people back into employment.
North West Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme
The North West Coalfield Communities
Regeneration Programme (NWCCRP), funded through the North West
Development Agency (NWDA), is a unique and innovative
partnership-lead strategy for the regeneration of former coalfield
communities.
The programme supports eight local
authorities: Allerdale, Bolton, Copeland, Knowsley, Salford, St
Helens, Warrington and Wigan. The programme has been
developed through the North West Coalfield Communities Campaign
(NWCCC), now the North West Alliance, which aims to address
deprivation through promoting economic, social and environmental
regeneration of former coalfield areas. It aims to narrow the
gap in prosperity, and improve the well-being, of those who
formerly worked in coalfield areas.
The NWCCRP has an allocation of £4.35 million
over three years, until 2012. Other public and private sector
funding is also being levered and invested alongside NWDA money.
The programme will achieve targeted outputs such as increased
skills, training, jobs and promote entrepreneurship as an option.
Wigan Council is the accountable body for the Programme and manages
it on behalf of the Independent Board. The Board comprises of two
representatives from each of the eight targeted areas representing
the public, private and community sectors.
The Phase 2 programme will deliver an integrated regeneration
package based on the client journey approach which will build on
the achievements of Phase 1. This will complement other
regeneration activity within coalfield areas, contributing to
improved economic and social conditions. A co-ordinated
approach will ensure economies of scale and also continue to
support communities previously outside the scope of other
regeneration programmes. The priority area of action
being:
- Promoting Enterprise and Reducing
Worklessness
- Increase engagement of workless people into
employment, education and training opportunities
- Improve employability and occupational
skills
- Promote an Enterprise Culture
- Encourage and enable employers to recruit
workless residents and retain people in work
- Improve business survival
The areas of focus have been informed by the
“GENECON evidence base study for the development of the NW
Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme (Phase 2)”
commissioned by the NW Alliance. The priority areas also
reflect the changing focus of the NWDA priorities as detailed
within the Regional Economic Strategy. The detail of the
project has also been informed by the recent Department of
Communities and Local Government review of Coalfield programmes and
the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report entitled “Coalfields and
neighbouring cities: economic regeneration, labour markets and
governance”
NWCCRP Phase 2 Strategy
Tackling Barriers in hard to reach areas through delivery of
small grassroots interventions within Allerdale and Copeland
In Allerdale and Copeland it has been identified
that some mainstream programmes ‘miss out’ the real hard to reach
people. Support is required through a range of the following
activities to address and remove barriers associated with improving
lives in hard to reach areas. Outreach beneficiary engagement
activities, mentoring activities, mobile job brokerage facilities,
volunteer programme activities and links to mainstream
activity.
Engaging Incapacity Benefit Claimants in Allerdale and
Copeland
Opportunities to address issues and barriers for
those that have been workless for a long time and on employment
incapacity benefit, including opportunities to address specific
condition-management issues.
Developing Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) Opportunities
Coalfields Regeneration Trust
The Coalfields Regeneration
Trust (external link) has funded a number of projects
within Allerdale and continues to do so as they have funding for a
further 2 years. Get
further information on applications (external link).
Their grants programme is about helping
groups who respond to local need. But they are also
proactive in developing ideas and projects that address key issues
such as worklessness, isolation, skills, sector development and
sustainability.
Grants are available from £500-£100,000.