UKSPF Skills Innovation Accelerator Programme

*Grant funding available now!*

Apply for funding to help solve real world problems your organisation is facing and give young people the opportunity to learn industry related skills.

What’s the purpose of this funding?

The Employer-Led Skills Challenges fund invites Local employers, or other organisations in collaboration with local employers, to bid for funding to construct a series of hand-on learning challenges related to the organisation and what real world problems are affecting their industry. This will give participants a real insight into the realities of working in that sector. These funds will be to help address gaps in local industry and create work experience/volunteering opportunities, whilst familiarising participants with workplace expectations.

Applications are very much welcomed from any sector within the local economy but are particularly welcomed from those industries which align to Doncaster’s Centres of Excellence (Engineering, Creative & Digital, Health & Care, and Green Tech).

This is to encourage employers to engage in delivery of learning opportunities (including hands-on work experience opportunities), and to enable residents aged 16+ to engage with real-world scenarios and issues affecting industry, and in turn to develop industry-related skills, and greater knowledge and understanding of the workplace.

The activities you run is limited only by your imagination, but here’s some examples of the types of activities you could run:

Example activities might include:

• An engineering business collaborating with schools to invite young people to work together with their parents/carers to build a wind turbine that can generate power made from recycled materials. The employer would provide the technical materials, and families would present their entries for the employer to judge and award prizes. The award event would highlight the skills entrants had gained as well as possible careers related to this challenge.
• A marketing agency opening their doors to invite groups of people interested in a career change to work in teams of three to six to develop a branding identity for a new start up and to pitch their ideas in a ‘Dragon’s Den’ style event.
• A tech company creating a social gaming online ‘hackathon’ for those interested in a career in the digital sector.

How much can I apply for? 

Applications are invited for any amount up to a maximum value of £2000. If you would like to put forward a proposal for an amount in excess of this value please contact us at the email address below. Grants are available on a rolling basis, until either March 2025 or the funding has been exhausted.

Am I eligible, what do I require?

• Evidence you have undertaken appropriate safeguarding training within the last two years
• DBS Certificate of individuals running the Event/Activity 
• Risk Assessments for the Activity 
• Public Liability insurance certificate
• Health and Safety Policy
• Bank Statement dated within the last 6 months

I’m interested – what do I need to do?

Please complete the expression of interest form on the following link. We will then be able to send you the relevant documentation to apply for the funding.

COMPLETE THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Please submit all Grant applications to Education.Skills@doncaster.gov.uk

*FUNDING HAS NOW CLOSED*

If you’ve got space at your location that you’re not using or that could be revitalised, then apply for funding to transform it and enable local learning.

What’s the Re-imagining Learning Space Fund?

We are looking to support learning providers, museums, libraries, community spaces, VCSF sector and employer organisations re-imagine, redesign, and remake their physical and digital spaces in a way that enables different forms of learning to take place. Please Note: We do not anticipate funding the building of new physical spaces, but rather the adaptation of existing spaces. If you are not the Property/landowner, you will need to evidence their permission alongside your Expression of Interest. 

What’s the purpose of the funding?

To create spaces that make learning more accessible, engaging, and relevant, and will drive up engagement from residents aged 16+ with the local skills offer. In addition, the funding aims to support the creation of volunteering opportunities – with opportunities for local communities to get involved in redesigning the spaces. 

What type of activities might this include: 

Inclusivity and accessibility will be the guiding principles behind any redesign – applicants will need to demonstrate how the works undertaken will remove existing barriers to engagement. These spaces will make learning more accessible, engaging, and relevant, and will drive up engagement with the local skills offer. Whether this is physical or digital. 

We are open to fund a variety of spaces and costs as part of this grant and welcome creativity; we love to hear about all of the different and unique opportunities that you provide to the community look forward to hearing how you would like to use this grant 

Example activity might include: 

• A local library converting an unused space in an existing venue to house a tool library – investing in tools and learning materials that support local people to gain greater confidence in their ability to fix and maintain their belongings.   
• A refugee-focused agency redesigning rooms to create trauma-informed learning spaces such that they are supportive, calming, and welcoming. For example, by installing sound dampeners, creating quiet zones or installing storage to provide clear sightlines to windows and exits.  
• A museum showcasing their collections online, allowing people to digitally interact with these objects and learn about their history. These online learning experiences would then signpost learners to further learning, volunteering and progression opportunities. 
• A business re-imagining a space within their building into a training room to be used for various training opportunities, which could then support additional employment opportunities within the organisation. 
• A school to design an outdoor learning space which could encourage parents and families to come and grow their own produce and learn all about the sustainability of growing your own food. 

How much funding can I apply for?

Applications are invited for any amount up to a maximum value of £5000. If you would like to put forward a proposal for an amount in excess of this value please contact us at the email address below. The deadline to apply for this funding is 28th October 2024. We will then review all applications and award the most innovative and creative learning spaces. 

Am I eligible, what do I require?

• Bank Statement dated within the last 6 months
• Proof of ownership or agreement to be able to make changes to the space.
• Public liability insurance

I’m interested – what should I do next?

Please complete the expression of interest form on the following link. We will then be able to send you the relevant documentation and application form for the funding stream you are applying for. We are also accepting Video applications for this area of funding. If you would like to send us a video application please state this on your expression of interest. 

COMPLETE THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Please submit all Grant applications to Education.Skills@doncaster.gov.uk

*Grant funding available now!*

Grant funding is available to you for running activities.

This is for VCFS groups, organisations and businesses to bid for grant funding to develop new and engaging learning activities for ages 16+ and families. The activities must be engaging, inclusive, accessible, spark curiosity and passion and promote the development of both technical, practical, life and socio-emotional skills. Where possible the experiences should align to one or more of the following themes: STEM, maker, creative, Arts, and professional development. 

The purpose of this funding Is to give VCFS groups, organisations and businesses a chance to be creative and deliver a innovative hands on learning activity to ages 16+ and their families. We hope that this activity would spark curiosity into the industry and allow the participants to follow on from the activity by volunteering within the space or taking the activity up as a hobby.

What type of activities can I run?

Activities you run must be engaging, inclusive, accessible, spark curiosity and passion and promote the development of both technical, practical, life and socio-emotional skills.

For any questions on the funding and activities – email Education.Skills@doncaster.gov.uk

Where possible the experiences should align to one or more of the following themes:

• Science Technology Engineering or Mathematics (STEM)
• Maker
• Creative
• Arts
• Professional development

How much funding can I apply for?

Applications are invited in 3 tiers, Small £50-£250, Medium £250-£500, Large £500+. Grants are available on a rolling basis, until either March 2025 or the funding has been exhausted.

Am I eligible, what do I require?

• Evidence you have undertaken appropriate safeguarding training within the last two years?
• DBS Certificate of individuals running the Event/Activity 
• Risk Assessments for the Activity 
• Public Liability insurance certificate
• Health and Safety Policy
• Bank Statement dated within the last 6 months

I’m interested – what should I do next?

Please complete the expression of interest form on the following link. We will then be able to send you the relevant documentation and application form for the funding stream you are applying for. 

COMPLETE THE EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM 

Please submit all applications to Education.Skills@doncaster.gov.uk  

Building on the work which has already been driven by the Local Authority, in collaboration with Rethinking Assessment, to develop a prototype skills profile. The purpose of the profile is to provide every resident with a personal portfolio which showcases a record of other achievements, talents, abilities, attitudes and behaviours alongside their academic qualifications. This will enable people to better understand themselves and their strengths, make them better able to tell the story of who they are, what they know and what they can do, at different points in their lives; and to re-balance and broaden what is valued in formal education.

NEXT STEPS

• This work will take the development of a skills profile to the next stage, by commissioning a suitable digital tech provider to co-design (in collaboration with local employers and learning providers) small, bite-sized units of learning and associated micro-badging. These will offer a more accessible and affordable route to continued learning and employment opportunities. The offer will link to and refer into existing services such as the START platform, Advance, and AFCL, driving up engagement in these wider support offers.
• The digital skills profile element will involve developing the digital infrastructure required to host the profiles; this would be shaped and tested with learners, employers and learning providers.
• The micro-credentialing element will involve working with employers and learning providers to shape officially recognised bite-sized units of learning that can be ‘stacked’ and promote pathways to further learning and employment opportunities.

 

Yes, we encourage organisations to apply for as many funding streams as possible, and where feasible, to develop complementary programmes of activity. For example if an organisation wanted to apply for the Re-imagining Learning Spaces fund to redesign a learning space, it could also look to deliver a Remake Learning activity within that space, and to incorporate Employer-Led Skills challenges as part of that event. This would be a great way of utilising all funding streams.

Any Doncaster and South Yorkshire-based organisations, voluntary and faith sector groups, businesses and venues. Hosts of events must ensure they have the right safeguarding requirements and insurance (see below).

A Remake Learning themed event takes learning outside of the traditional education setting, offering fun, engaging and educational activities for the whole family and inspiring hearts and minds to consider a variety of future career options. These are typically free or low cost. Ideally they should focus on themes such as arts, crafting and making, outdoor learning, science, technology, youth voice, professional development.

The sessions can be aimed at ages 16+ and families and are designed to connect them to the great community assets in the place they live, be that outside spaces, libraries, local businesses, community venues and centres of faith. Events can also be delivered virtually. Remake Learning is an internationally acclaimed movement to make learning relevant, engaging, inclusive and equitable across and within local communities, and we are excited to be collaborating with the organisation and bringing its approach to our city.

Yes, events can be hosted online for the Remake Learning activities however you will be expected to demonstrate how your event will engage and positively impact Doncaster residents.

For the Re-imaging spaces funding we are accepting applications to redesign your online space into a learning space. We will also need to see how this will impact the residents of Doncaster. 

You will need to design, run and staff the event/s for the Remake Learning and Employer-Led skills challenges yourself including sourcing a venue if you don't already have access to one, which the funding can support with. However, we are on-hand to support and advise. It would be great if you could promote your event/s on any channels you have to make sure you get a high level of participation. 

You will be required to complete an event host feedback form no later than 2 weeks after the delivery of the activity.  You also required to prepare an attendance record for their event and to obtain and collate feedback from participants. Attendance Records and Participant Feedback are to be returned to the Education.skills@doncaster.gov.uk email, no later the 2 weeks after the delivery of the activity. 

You will be expected, where possible, to capture images and video recordings, with appropriate permissions granted. The Recipient is to promote information relating to their activity before, during and after the event.  

If you have been granted Re-imagining spaces funding it is expected you use a local organisation to support with the redesign.

In line with the focus of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, any funded activity would need to have a focus on providing opportunities for people people aged 16+, and must demonstrate how it will deliver one or more of the prescribed outputs and outcomes for this age group. However, this does not mean that activity needs to exclusively target this cohort, or that additional benefits could not be realised. For example, proposals might be focused on delivering a family learning opportunity which engages parents alongside their children. We are looking to spark curiosity into the individuals to either start a new hobby or engage in volunteering opportunities within the industry that your activity relates to. If you are unsure as to whether or not your proposal fits with these criteria please contact us at Education.Skills@doncaster.gov.uk 

We would look to prioritise activities/projects delivered within Doncaster, however activities delivered from South Yorkshire will also be considered. If you have any questions regarding this please contact Education.skills@doncaster.gov.uk

Please complete the expression of interest form where we can send you the correct application form and guidance document. 

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM