Agenda item

Presentations by organisations that submitted applications for UKSPF support for Education Support Programme funding.

Applicant A – Inspire+ Move and Food Programme

 

The applicant gave an overview of the organisation and the programme that the organisation delivered:

 

-        Inspire+ a local charity, had been established in 2011 and primarily worked with Primary and Secondary schools to deliver funded school holiday camps for children receiving income-related free school meals.

-        The holiday camps were largely physical activity based and consisted of sports and activities, cooking lessons, gardening, arts & crafts, and nutritional education and mental wellbeing sessions.

-        The organisation also received funding from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC).

-        Hot meals and healthy snacks were provided to the children throughout the day.

-        The aim of the initiative was to tackle social isolation, obesity, and anti-social behaviour, and to improve confidence, social skills and school attendance.

-        The UKSPF application was sought to fund half-term camps in October, February, and May, each for six hours a day.

 

During questions from Members, the applicant confirmed the following:

 

-        The programme was aimed at children aged 5-16 and they tried to stagger the activities by-age for the larger groups. They found that the mixture of ages had been a positive influence as many of the older children had been good role models for the younger children.

-        The service had grown significantly in the last three years to provide activities outside of sport, such as the cooking lessons.

-        The subsequent growth had lead to oversubscription with 3,000 bookings being received in just 12 hours for the summer camp.

-        It was confirmed that the following locations were used in the south of the district: Bourne Abbey Academy, Deeping St. James C.P School, and St. Augustine’s School Stamford due to the higher levels of students receiving income-related free school meals within the vicinity of these schools. It was noted that these were just the location that the service was facilitated at and the camps were open to children of all schools.

-        The applicant confirmed that the application for £40,000 was deemed sufficient.

-        The applicant confirmed their positive working relationship with local groups.

-        It was noted that the applicant organisation was not Ofstead registered due to not having a fixed location, however, they did seek to adhere to Ofstead standards. Furthermore, LCC conducted quality assurance visits.

 

Following the departure of the applicant, those Members present AGREED to approve the application and recommend the award of £40,000.

 

Applicant B – Grantham College Future:Forward Programme

 

The applicant gave an overview of the organisation and the programme that the organisation delivered:

 

-        The Future:Forward Programme was based on employability support and NEET (not in education, employment, or training) prevention.

-        Employability Support was offered in the form of 1-1 advice was Level Seven qualified advisors, group employability sessions, CV and interview skills, and support progressing onto courses, volunteering, or accessing a wider support network.

-        Between November 2024 – March 2025, 35 people received tailored career advice, 34 received 1-1 wellbeing support, and 31 received employability training. Following these, 12 people progressed onto employment or volunteering and 34 enrolled on a course.

-        The applicant emphasised their effective working relationship with local organisations like the Jubilee Church, the Beehive, and the Job Centre.

-        The previous grant of UKSPF funding had been used to refurbish an intervention room and pay for an additional tutor. The benefit of which was reported to be higher exam attendance and course completion rates compared to previous years.

-        The applicant confirmed that if the UKSPF application was not approved then the service would not have another income stream until the Connect to Work Programme cohort in February 2026.

 

During questions from Members, the applicant confirmed the following:

 

-        The college had two internal Councilors and would refer to specialist agencies for more severe mental health instances.

-        The applicant agreed to provide further clarification outside the meeting  about the exact increase in exam attendance, and the breakdown of those subsequently going into paid employment rather than voluntary.

-        It was confirmed that should the funding application be unsuccessful then the refurbished room being used for the initiative would be not be fully utilized and would need to be reallocated for other uses.

-        It was noted that most referrals were received from organisations in Grantham such as the Beehive and the Job Centre.

-        Should the funding be granted then full time staff would be recruited for the relevant tutoring positions, in contrast to the temporary agency staff used previously.

-        Advice was sought of the applicant as to how the panel should value any employment generated by the initiative. The applicant advised that there was an organisation that was able to calculate a monetary value of this – believed to be called Youth Philanthropy Capital.

 

Following the departure of the applicant, Members AGREED to defer making a decision on the application until outstanding queries were addressed by the applicant following the meeting.

 

Applicant C – Harlaxton Impact Booster

 

The applicant gave an overview of the organisation and the programme that the organisation delivered:

 

-        Other than the knowledge transfer target, all other targets were either met or exceeded in the previous cohort.

-        As a result of the programme previously delivered, organisations had subsequently developed greater governance structures, some even fully restructuring the organisation, trustee board, or pay structure.

-        The applicant clarified that the funding would enable to the delivery of the following four programmes:

o   Impact Booster Programme – a development of the programme previously delivered in 2024/25.

o   Advanced Impact Booster Programme – addressing growth, sustainability, scaling, and governance maturity, building upon the foundation established in the original programme.

o   Adaptive Leadership in Action: Leading High-Performing Teams in the Social Economy  - based on the initial leadership programme funded by UKSPF in 2024/25.

o   Virtual Networking Series: Building Knowledge, Community, and Capacity in the Social Economy - designed to bring together small community organisations, social enterprises, and voluntary sector leaders in a low-barrier, supportive format.

 

During questions from Members, the applicant confirmed the following:

 

-        The initiative had orchestrated a collaboration of sports-based pastoral support which previously didn’t have a co-ordinated approach within the district.

-        The applicant worked with organisations ranging from £5k - £5M of turnover.

-        The scheme was advertised through a comprehensive social media campaign, local media, and a continuous dialogue with infrastructure bodies.

-        It was confirmed that engagement had largely been in Grantham and Stamford previously but the applicant was seeking engagement across the wider district.

-        The applicant acknowledged that the scheme had likely saved jobs rather than creating new ones.

 

Following the departure of the applicant, those Members present AGREED to approve the application and recommend the award of £61,500.

 

Applicant D – Connect2Grow, Steadfast

 

The applicant gave an overview of the organisation and the programme that the organisation delivered:

 

-        It was confirmed that £87,550 was awarded by the UKSPF board previously. Were the new application of £90,000 granted then this would be match funded to the extent of £30,000, funding the course tutors, training, and the relevant accreditation. 

-        The applicant identified that the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) funding was not initiated until individuals were out of work for six months. Therefore, UKSPF funding was being sought to allow the applicant to intervene without having to wait for individuals to be out of work for six months.

 

During questions from Members, the applicant confirmed the following:

 

-        It was clarified that the suggestion of 25 individuals progressing into employment following competition of the initiative was based on the organisation’s track record of both a person-centered approach and positive working relations with employers guaranteeing interviews. These were secured by the applicant’s Employee Engagement Team maintaining existing relationships and establishing new relationships by cold-calling and social media networking.

-        Barriers to employment that individuals working with the organisation often encountered was that they were unaware of transferable skills that they possessed. The applicant also believed that the increase in Employer’s National Insurance contributions had resulted in small and medium-sized enterprises were recruiting less.

-        Following the conclusion of the organisation's work with a specific individual, the organisation oversaw a three month ‘tracking period’. This is where they monitored the outcome of the individual’s professional circumstances; namely whether they obtained and sustained employment. This was done in conjunction with the Job Centre. 36% of individuals obtained and sustained employment during the previous tracking period cohort.

-        To complete the course full-time, it was confirmed that Level One courses took 36 hours and Level Two courses took 75 hours.

-        It was noted that there was the equivalent of 2.5 full time positions dedicated to overseeing delivery of the service. These individuals were accessible at either Mindspace in Stamford, the Job Centre in Grantham and virtually.

-        The applicant conceded that the scheme would only be able to supported individuals in receipt of benefits and over the age of 19 were the funding application not granted.

 

Following the departure of the applicant, those Members present AGREED to approve the application and recommend the award of £90,000.