Black Country 50+ Innovation Grants

Sandwell Consortium is inviting community organisations to apply to their Innovation Grants Fund under the Black Country 50+ programme in Sandwell. The BC 50+ is a pilot programme which aims to reach and support residents aged 50+ to engage in employability support.

The programme is funded by the Government’s Community Renewal Fund, through West Midlands Combined Authority. The statutory lead for the Black Country is Sandwell MBC.  The delivery lead for Sandwell borough is Sandwell Consortium.

The programme, which started on 1st Feb 2022 and ends 30th June 2022, is delivered through eight local organisations across Sandwell.  The organisations are employing a part-time Navigator to reach residents aged 50+ to engage, support and help residents develop skills to move into education or training and closer to employment.

The Innovation Fund will provide small grants (up to £5,000) to test new and emerging approaches which respond to local needs. This should provide specific support to those aged 50+ and accommodate their needs and help them overcome some of the barriers they face to moving closer to employment. The Fund is open to all community organisations in Sandwell (regardless of whether they are a Navigator organisation).

Organisations that receive a grant from this Fund will be expected to meet the targets of the overall programme relating to engaging economically inactive, unemployed, and employed residents, as well as achieving employability support outcomes.

Applications will be scored against the needs of the target group and the aims of the programme. Sandwell Consortium particularly welcome applications that aim to engage economically inactive participants.

Applications can be submitted on a rolling basis from 1st March 2022 until 13th May 2022. Please note that all delivery under the Innovation Fund must be completed by 17th June 2022, to allow reporting within the timescales of the 50+ programme.

For an application pack, please email Toslima Nasrin at toslima@sandwellconsortium.co.uk

For an informal discussion about the Innovation Fund and the BC 50+ programme, please contact Ben Slater at Sandwell Consortium on 0121 533 2668.