UKSPF - Year 3

Grants to local communities and partners

Grants of £3,000 to £20,000 will be distributed through an open competitive process led by North Somerset Council (NSC).
NSC welcomes proposals for projects projects which support local priorities and follow the below UKSPF investments:

E6: Local arts, cultural, heritage & creative activities
E9: Impactful volunteering and/or social action projects
E11: Capacity building & infrastructure support local groups
E12: Community engagement schemes, local regeneration
E14: Relevant feasibility studies

The second funding round will open December 2023.

Opportunity North Somerset

Opportunity North Somerset is an independent triage service, tailored to help individuals navigate the landscape of employment support. We guide you straight to the services that are best suited for your specific needs.

Whether you’re just starting out, changing careers, or seeking ways to upskill, our dedicated team is here to ensure that you’re paired with the best resources, training, and guidance. We connect you with local organisations, training programs, and counselors that match your personal and professional aspirations.

Employment Support

The Employment Support Initiative will support individuals at different stages of their employment journey offering tailored pathways for:

NEET young people (aged 16-24)
Those who want to return to the workforce
People in work seeking career progression

This initiative connects every individual with the right resources, training, and opportunities, ensuring a tailored approach to achieving professional aspirations and growth.

Employment support for women returning to the workplace after a period of childcare

A comprehensive program designed to support women returning to the workforce after a period of childcare.

This support will provide:

An initial interview to pinpoint challenges
One month-long training for core employability skills
Tailored coaching sessions
A work placement with a local organisation and;
Subsequent guidance on CV writing, job searching, and interviews

The program will also includes ongoing mentoring and emphasises the importance of in-demand sectors like green skills, digital/tech, and construction.

Employment support for those with learning difficulties

Information will be coming soon.

Employment support for those with mental health barriers to employment

Voluntary Action North Somerset is continuing their ‘Step Forward’ programme, assisting individuals with mental health challenges in their journey towards employment by providing tailored support ranging from peer interactions to employment preparation.

Tapping into the value of each participant, the programme not only addresses barriers like anxiety and low confidence, but also promotes volunteering as a powerful tool for social engagement and skills building.

Business support and capital grants to help local organisations and businesses occupy our town centres

From January 2024 to April 2025, a pilot programme will regenerate local town centres by offering business support and capital grants to local organisations and businesses, this initiative aims to:

Support existing organisations and businesses remain in our town centres
Attract new organisations and businesses into our vacant units

There are also capital grants available of up to £10,000 for some of the supported organisations.

Continuation from Year 2

Net Zero: Business Grants Programme

The Business Grants Programme will run from April 2023 to April 2025 and aims to support our small and medium size businesses (SMEs) with decarbonisation works and continue working towards a net zero North Somerset area.

You can apply for a capital grant of up to £30,000 to perform energy efficiency measures, such as LED replacements, draught proofing, installation of air source heat pumps and renewables.

We will be offering match funding up to 70% for businesses depending on the size, location and type of project.

Click here to find out more about the Business Grants Programme

Broadway Lodge: Aftercare Service

Broadway Lodge is offering an Aftercare Service in Weston-super-Mare for anyone in abstinence-based recovery from addiction who is economically inactive and looking to work towards employment.

The service is provided by a counsellor and a key worker to facilitate therapy groups, workshops, and 1-1 counselling sessions. The aim of the service is to support people in early recovery to build and maintain abstinence-based recovery, build recovery capital, and access education, training and employment support.

Centre for Sustainable Energy: Home Energy Advice Helpline

UKSPF is part-funding a freephone home energy advice service for households in North Somerset and the surrounding areas. The advice line will offer free, impartial advice to all households, particularly to those in or at risk of fuel poverty.

The advice line provides energy advice and support covering various topics, including energy-saving measures, income maximization, grants and benefits, and renewable energy technologies.

Click here to find out more about the Home Energy Advice Helpline

Business Support Unlocked (BSU)

Delivered through the hive, the Business Support Unlocked programme is a free at the point of access pre-start, early growth, and business resilience programme that provides North Somerset businesses with a package of flexible and accessible support to help them overcome challenges and succeed well into the future.

Support includes:

A 3.5 day Starting in Business Course
Advice Sessions delivered through face-to-face appointments, by phone, or via online platforms
A series of workshops that focus on up-to-date information on key priorities and sectors

Click here to find out more about BSU

West of England Combined Authority - Growth Hub

The West of England Growth Hub provides tailored support, expert guidance and access to finance and support programmes to small and medium-sized businesses across North Somerset. This free and impartial service is available to business of all sectors and sizes who have ambition to grow.

Support includes:

Triage and Diagnostics Service
The Good Employment Charter
Intellectual Property Support
Thrive at Work
Workforce for the Future
The Create Growth Programme

Click here to find out more about the Growth Hub

Visit West

Visit West (VW) is the officially accredited Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for the visitor economy in Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucester, and North Somerset.

UKSPF has funded North Somerset’s membership of Visit West. This membership enables local visitor economy businesses to join a network of more than 700 like-minded businesses, working together to develop and market the region, to consumers, travel trade and the business events industry. This enables a wider audience and connect them with routes to market, business support, industry insight, unique marketing opportunities, exclusive member events, networking and more.

Continuation from Year 1

Care leaver employment and training support

A specialist Education, Employment, and Training (EET) Coach is supporting young care leavers (aged 16-25) into sustainable education, employment, and training. This will help them with the transition to independence and adulthood.

The council is working with local organisations and businesses to develop new partnerships and provide work placement opportunities, helping both the care leavers to build their employment skills, and helping businesses to increase their capacity.

To find out more, or if you can provide an employment or training opportunity for a young care leaver please contact: jane.goodison@n-somerset.gov.uk