Funding is provided by Staffordshire County Council, who have been involved in the UK Governments Resettlement programmes since 2016. The grant programme is administered by The Community Foundation for Staffordshire.
Objectives of Fund
Funding is aimed at complementing other commissioned services in supporting the resettlement and integration of people from Hong Kong, Afghanistan and the Ukraine in Staffordshire.
Grants are available for projects supporting people who have entered the county as part of the national Homes for Ukraine, ARAP/ACRS, ARP and Hong Kong BNO schemes. The intention is for resettled individuals and families to:
- Have access to more good jobs and share the benefits of economic growth.
- Live in thriving and sustainable communities.
- Be healthier and independent.
Eligible projects should support the individual resettlement and integration journeys that each guest will take during their initial years in Staffordshire.
There are four priority areas for funding.
Priority One – English language learning:
- Learner focussed informal pre-entry/beginner and intermediate level sessions both face to face and digital that enable participants to have basic English to navigate every day tasks such as booking a GP appointment, shopping, travel, liaise with school and the DWP.
- Practical days out to practice English in local shops and cafes, navigate travel options, socialise in the group while speaking English.
- One-to-one peripatetic English Language Learning sessions for individuals who find group learning and using IT challenging. These should be time limited as a step into group learning.
- English Language Learning for specific job roles/pathways to employment including, but not limited to, health and care, construction, education and child care, business admin, retail, hospitality and IT.
- Activities that include informal English Language learning for children and young people (up to 19 years of age) to supplement formal education after school, weekend or non-term times.
- Informal pre-entry/beginner and intermediate level sessions both face to face and digital for children and young people.
Priority Two – pathway to employment and training.
- Pathway to employment programmes, both face to face and digital, which include all areas of support for individuals to find employment, mentorship schemes, volunteering opportunities, links with local employers, careers advice, progress a chosen career path, secure training and access to further education or university courses.
- Support for business start ups.
- Support to develop digital literacy, IT knowledge and skills.
Priority Three – community cohesion, independence and integration for adults and children including awareness raising, social connections and events.
- Community, social and/or cultural integration including providing funds to existing projects to enhance the offer to support resettled families attending.
- Children’s or young person’s activities to enhance local offers.
- Role of women within households to ensure independence and avoid isolation.
- Engagement in local arts and culture.
- Support understanding of ‘life in the UK’.
- Projects where resettled individuals and groups are actively involved to run them themselves.
- Sustainable projects that have plans to continue once this grant funding ceases.
Priority Four- Improve physical/emotional health and wellbeing of guests.
- Improved emotional health and wellbeing in a creative way.
- Improved physical health to include active activities and healthy life choices for adults and children.
- Support for positive parenting.
Grants of between £1,000 and £20,000 are available Priority One and Priority Two projects.
Grants of between £1,000 to £10,000 are available for Priority Three and Priority Four projects.
Grants must be fully spent by 16 March 2027.
Who Can Apply
The following organisations are eligible to apply:
- Registered charities.
- Constituted community or voluntary groups.
- Social Enterprises.
- Any other voluntary, not-for-profit organisation.
- Parish Councils (provided the grant is for new/additional activities, services or events).
Organisations will ideally have been established for at least six months. Newer organisations must contact the Community Foundation to discuss their eligibility prior to applying.
Organisations are required to have the following:
- Governance document (e.g., constitution, memorandum and articles of association).
- Accounts (either audited, independently examined or giving evidence of cashflow).
- A bank statement (no older than three months and clearly showing the bank account name, number and sort code).
- A safeguarding policy.
- An equality Policy.
- Public liability insurance.
Applications for both grant tiers are open and will be considered monthly on a rolling basis until all the funding has been allocated.