Partnership Opportunities - Flexible Support Fund

Latest News (14th September 2011)

Jobcentre Plus Flexible Support Fund

From April 2011, Jobcentre Plus Districts have had more discretion to design, influence and deliver services to help customers to move off benefits and into employment sooner than would otherwise be possible.

District Managers will continue to engage with local public and voluntary organisations, particularly where this joins up collective efforts and stimulates solutions for improving employment and skills.

District Managers also have some scope to support local partnership working to improve employment outcomes or prospects of future employment, for communities and individuals facing barriers to work. Managers will prioritise the use of resources, including supporting appropriate partnership work, in line with local needs.

Greater Manchester Central & Cheshire District is now able to consider awarding grants to not for profit organisations, especially in the voluntary and community sector, to support activities, which align with the Department’s objectives of  improving employment outcomes and prospects for individuals or communities, and which

• make effective links between public services – health, housing, transport, employment and skills etc. – and providing related support;
• supplement existing, or new partnership activities, which support DWP’s objectives;
• are likely to achieve greater effect and better value for money (where appropriate), by aligning or pooling money with other funding from local partners to achieve common purposes which have identifiable employment gains in line with DWP’s objectives; or
• support DWP’s contribution to wider government initiatives in support of social justice.

Below is a letter to partners introducing the Flexible Support Grant Fund, an Application Form and guidance notes on completion for your use.  Please note that your application should give specific details about the service/support you will deliver and give an indication of the outcomes which will be achieved. You should return the completed form to:

GMCC.EXTERNALRELATIONS@JOBCENTREPLUS.GSI.GOV.UK 

Please also e-mail any related questions to the above address. The closing date for receipt of electronic copies is 30th September 2011.

• Letter to Partners ( PDF 51 kb)
  
• Application Guidance Notes ( PDF 70 kb)
  
• Flexible Support Fund Application Form (Word 137 kb)

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