Grassroots organisations in Aberdeen have less than a week to apply for funding to help them to develop, build on and deliver local employability projects in the city.
The ABZWorks Development Fund supports activities for residents who face barriers to employment, with a view to helping them move closer to the labour market or into employment, training, education, or volunteering.
This is the third round of development funding offered by Aberdeen City Council’s employability service ABZWorks in 2024. A combined total of £191,277 has been awarded to 19 organisations in the first and second rounds.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard, said: “It is important that we utilise and support community and third sector expertise to connect with and help people in Aberdeen towards employment, particularly those who in the past would have faced barriers for various reasons.
“Rounds one and two of ABZWorks Development Fund have been successful and we want to continue this momentum to help more grassroots organisations, to build and develop their activities to enable them to offer more people the opportunity to access employability programmes and work.”
Those facing barriers to employment could be someone leaving school without knowing what their next steps are; limited work experience; having a disability; being care experienced; being from a minority ethnic background; a parent or carer; or someone with previous offending behaviour.
Employability activities can include confidence building, wellbeing sessions, parents' groups, an introduction to computers, and job clubs.
The funding support is open to community-based, grassroots organisations that are not on the Council’s procurement framework for employability services.
There is a particular focus on Aberdeen’s priority areas: Kincorth, Ashgrove, Stockethill, Torry, George Street, Middlefield, Mastrick, Cummings Park, Northfield, Heathryfold, Seaton, Woodside, and Tillydrone.
To apply for funding, interested parties are invited to complete an application form: ABZWorks Development Fund - Phase 3.
The deadline for applications is noon on Monday 16 December 2024. Previous applicants are eligible to apply.
For further information or for support to complete an application, please email abzworks@aberdeencity.gov.uk with the words ‘ABZWorks Development Fund’ in the subject line.
Applicants who would like to discuss their proposal can email ABZWorks and a member of the team will arrange an appointment for Friday 13 December, via Microsoft Teams or by telephone.
Please see the ABZWorks website www.abzworks.co.uk for examples and case studies of employability activity.
ABZWorks utilised No One Left Behind monies from the Scottish Government to create the Development Fund to help it connect with those hardest to reach and gently move them onto and along the employment pipeline.
Previous recipients of ABZWorks Development Funding:
Round one: Absafe; Cairncry Community Centre; Third Level Foundation; Denis Law Legacy Trust; Black and Scot; Ferryhill Men’s Shed; Silver City Surfers; The Bridge; WeToo!; and the YMCA.
- Round two: Autism and Neurodiversity North Scotland; Silver City Surfers; Touch of Love; Catalyst Transform; Denis Law Legacy Trust; Your Love Rara;Cairncry Community Centre; Bethany Christian Trust; Middlefield Community Project; Inchgarth Community Centre; Music 4 U; and Instant Neighbour.