Support for UkraineProject and Partnership Fund
Skills & Learning works in partnership with voluntary, charitable and not-for-profit organisations throughout Dorset, supporting the work they undertake with groups in our communities. As well as opportunities for local people to re-engage with learning, our partners offer other opportunities including: Apprenticeships, Traineeships (16–24), Study Programmes (16–18) and Vocational Training from Level 1 to Level 5
The aims of the Project and Partnership Fund are:
- To deliver high quality teaching and learning to meet individual community needs.
- To encourage those who would not normally see themselves as learners to access learning, increase their self esteem and confidence and develop their life and work skills.
- To offer pre-employment support and training to prepare adults for employment.
- To offer those with special needs and without formal qualifications a bridge back into learning.
- To offer a clear progression route through learning which will attract and interest the participants into further learning.
- To provide Family Learning which results in multiple benefits for adults and children, especially for families who are the most disadvantaged and excluded from society.
- To offer innovative learning opportunities that will engage those who do not see the benefit of learning.
We are so proud that we get the opportunity to work with other organisations to offer life-changing learning to the wider community. Some of our projects have been recognised for their commitment to learning by the 2021 Festival of Learning.
Extending our reach through partnerships
To engage disadvantaged communities and those furthest from learning our community learning curriculum strategy is committed to investing in partnerships for building capacity in the third sector.
Community Learning – We commission our Project and Partnership Funds to support
 | FACE (Family Advice – Communication – Education)FACE aims to support and empower parents and those who support children and teenagers. The project aims to improve family relationships leading to less stress, anxiety, depression, self-medication, addiction across the board, cries for help and self-harm, for both the adults and teenagers. The online and in-person teach and workshop sessions introduce parents to effective and evidence-based interventions including information, tools and techniques in positive communication, especially when discussing sensitive subjects such as gender issues, drug use and sexual behaviour. |
 | Project name: GrowthBCHA Learn (Bournemouth Churches Association) are passionate about supporting people to make positive changes and turn their lives around. Targeting vulnerable adults, aiming to improve their wellbeing the ‘Growth Project’ will deliver engaging and tailored nature and horticulture themed activities and workshops at the New Leaf Allotment near Throop, a 2 acre site with yurt style classrooms. The activities will closely align to the four recognised elements of wellbeing: Emotional and Mental Wellbeing, Physical Wellbeing, Social Wellbeing and Meaningful Use of Time. Sessions will adopt a Trauma informed, solutions focused approach. |
 | Project name: Inspire DorsetDorset Community Action will build on the legacy of the Building Better Opportunities programme. The project will target young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and mental health challenges (to include young people up to 24 years old). Young people will experience the process of designing, developing and launching a social action project. Delivered through team challenges which support the safe testing of community and social action projects, in response to a local need (e.g. loneliness) as identified by young people, using a team based test and learn approach. Each group will be supported by a DCA coach who will help learners develop fusion skills, identify their development needs, the barriers they face, and understand the options and opportunities available to them. |
 | Project name: Freedom and RecoveryThe aim of the D.A.I.T project is to deliver free domestic abuse courses in the local community that empower clients who have been in abusive relationships, with lifelong skills, tools and techniques to effectively make healthy choices for themselves and their children. The course helps clients to understand what they have been through and the effects this has had on their mental health and wellbeing, The Freedom Programme has been designed to help any woman who have been a victim of or is affected by domestic abuse. As a progression route DAIT also provide the Recovery Toolkit, which is a trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy programme. It is suitable for women not currently in an abusive relationship. |
Adult Skills & 16-18 subcontractors are selected who are particularly good at engaging with and providing good quality provision for young people with troubled prior experiences (e.g., care leavers, school exclusion), those with special educational needs and adults facing challenges such as addiction recovery, homelessness, long term unemployment.
| 19 years+ Adults | |
| Bournemouth Church Housing AssociationDelivering to Adults to make positive changes and turn their lives around through new skills, trying new opportunities and celebrating successes. Supporting unemployed, disengaged learners following addiction recovery and/or poor mental health often in insecure housing with some insecure employment, by offering a variety of employability/personal development programmes, volunteering qualifications, cookery programmes, ICT programmes and Horticulture qualifications at level 1 and 2 delivered at the New Leaf allotment in Bournemouth. In a highly supportive environment, learners build skills to enter employment, start volunteering, or take on further study or training. Most delivery is in the BCP Council Conurbation – some delivery for specific groups available in Dorset. |
 | Whitehead-Ross Education and ConsultancyBased in the wider Dorset area Whitehead-Ross will support unemployed and low-waged individuals. All courses have clear progression routes, such as further learning at a higher level, employment or in-work progression (e.g. higher pay and promotion). Their provision includes Support Work in Schools, Leadership & Team Skills, Introductions to Cabin Crew and Hair & Beauty training, Health & Safety in Construction as well as maths/English and Employability skills. The provision is designed to complement our direct delivery programme and extend our reach by offering courses in locations that Skills & Learning do not directly deliver in. |
 | Side by SideCovering all of Dorset, Side by Side offer Early Years, Care and School sector qualification courses. With the announced increase in free childcare places, the already understaffed early years sector will need a larger workforce in Dorset. Side by Side is also an employer and runs local nursery schools, providing solid work experience opportunities for learners and sector specialist input. Side by Side offer face to face and online delivery options. A training provider in their own right, Side by Side was graded Good by Ofsted in 2022 and has Matrix accreditation. New partners from April 2023 to extend reach in Dorset and broaden sector opportunities. |
 | Dorset Trade SkillsA training centre based in Weymouth, Dorset, delivering vocational courses, employability courses and Functional Skills. Vocational courses include Bricklaying, Plastering, Carpentry and Tiling. These courses provide the opportunity to develop skills and gain knowledge in the construction industry. Learners can potentially qualify up to Level 2 – the basis for recognised proficiency and self-employment in the building industry. A Level 1 certificate along with the Health & Safety in Construction Award required to gain a CSCS card, enhances learners’ CVs and opens the door to immediate employment opportunities in the area. |
 | Somerset Skills & Learning (SS&L)Somerset Skills & Learning are an adult education provider delivering Adult Skills and Community Learning (Tailored Learning) along with the UKSPF, Multiply project, Apprenticeships and Traineeship for Somerset Council. To improve employment prospects and social inclusion and support the Dorset workforce challenges identified in the LSIP, SS&L will offer a community-based programme, including: Functional Skills (Maths, English & ESOL, Digital Skills) Early Years, Education & Training, Early Years and Mental Health provision for 19yrs+. The provision will be targeted at adults who live on or around the borders of Dorset and Somerset and travel to learn/work.
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 | Mike Taylor EducationMike Taylor Education offers innovative Barbering and Hairdressing qualifications to unemployed, low waged and career change learners in the conurbation leading to apprenticeship training, employment, self employment or further study. Learners have excellent employment and self-employment rates following completion of programmes. This AEB funding allocation supports learner progression to level 2 from Skills & Learning direct delivery introduction and level 1 barbering courses. Excellent work experience / employer exposure opportunities provided along with industry specialist competitions, guest speakers and events. |
| 16-18 years | |
 | Aim CommunityThe AIM Arts Academy supports young people from across the conurbation who have disengaged /been excluded from education or have been home schooled and lack the personal skills required for further study or work. The programme aim is to support learners’ progression into further study or work and re-engage them with society through creative and technical skills development, qualifications and an individualised personal development plan to address creative skills shortages. Staff are also trained as youth workers and create a supportive, safe environment that allows for creative and individual expression whilst providing coaching and guidance on appropriate social and workplace interactions. English & maths functional skills / GCSEs are offered and exposure to employers where appropriate through industry and HE connections. |
| Whitehead Ross Education and ConsultancyDelivery and wrap around pastoral, enrichment and high quality work experience support for a part time study programme in the style of a Traineeship. Delivered over 4 days a week in the centre of Weymouth for young people from across Dorset but with a focus on Weymouth & Portland residents who are NEET or at risk of becoming NEET. |
| Mike TaylorDelivery and wrap around pastoral, enrichment and sector specific work experience support for a part time study programme in barbering for young people in the BCP Council area, unable to secure apprenticeships and where the local college is not the best learning environment for them. There is an identified need locally with requests from young people, parents and other referral agencies. |
Join us
The Project and Partnership Fund is open to bids from Third Sector and community organisations that are able to provide innovative learning opportunities for adults from priority groups and those from areas of deprivation as measured in the government deprivation indices.
We will next re-tender in 2023 for delivery in the academic years 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26. Opportunities will be published on the regional portal Supplying the Southwest. You can register to the portal for free. It allows you to receive email notifications whenever opportunities matching your profile become available.
Other partners:
- BCP Council
- Dorset Council
- Crumbs
- Poole Communities Trust
- Sovreign
- Upton Country Park
