{"id":66418,"date":"2025-06-30T12:46:37","date_gmt":"2025-06-30T11:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/?p=66418"},"modified":"2025-06-30T12:46:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-30T11:46:40","slug":"new-grant-scheme-to-boost-essential-skills-across-devon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/news\/new-grant-scheme-to-boost-essential-skills-across-devon\/","title":{"rendered":"New grant scheme to boost essential skills across Devon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We’re launching an ambitious new initiative aimed at improving adult learning and skills.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essential Skills Devon is designed to support innovative, community-led projects that help people aged 16 and over to overcome barriers to learning and unlock new opportunities. Its aim is to improve adult literacy, numeracy, digital skills, and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) throughout the county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The programme has been made possible through the UK Government\u2019s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) awarded to the Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We’re inviting organisations to apply for grants of between \u00a320,000 and \u00a360,000 to deliver projects under three key themes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Skills for Work and Economic Participation<\/em><\/strong>
    \u2022 Workplace English and maths courses
    \u2022 Digital skills for employment
    \u2022 Sector-specific basic skills training (e.g. contextualised maths for retail, care, and construction)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Pathways for Youth \u2013 Re-engaging NEETs<\/em><\/strong>
    \u2022 Creative engagement programmes (e.g. music, art, sport)
    \u2022 Digital confidence courses
    \u2022 Mentoring and youth-led learning initiatives<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Foundations for Independent Living and Social Inclusion<\/em><\/strong>
    \u2022 Everyday English and ESOL
    \u2022 Numeracy for life (e.g. budgeting, managing bills)
    \u2022 Digital inclusion workshops
    \u2022 Community learning circles and health literacy sessions<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n
    \r\n\t
    \r\n

    Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband, said: <\/p><\/div>\r\n \t\t

    “We’re calling on organisations to provide us with their proposals to help deliver vital skills locally to some of those who are often the hardest to reach. This programme will focus on underserved communities in Devon, particularly in rural and coastal areas.<\/p>\n

    \u201cEssential Skills Devon is designed to complement existing adult education provision in the county rather than duplicate it. We\u2019re looking for innovative projects to provide people with the opportunity to take that first step and gain confidence to become engaged with learning, to consider studying for a qualification or to open up new job prospects.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t<\/blockquote>\r\n

    \r\n\t
    \r\n\t\t\"Councillor\r\n
    \r\n Councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin, Cabinet Member for Rural Affairs and Broadband<\/a><\/figcaption>\r\n <\/figure>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Applications are welcome from a wide range of organisations, including private businesses, public sector bodies, voluntary and community organisations, charities and CICs, and must be submitted by Monday 14 July 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To be eligible, projects must deliver activities within Devon County Council\u2019s administration area, Exeter, East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon and align with the programme\u2019s themes and objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For more information and to apply, visit our Essential Skills Devon webpages<\/a> or contact EssentialSkillsDevon@devon.gov.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":66420,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22,24],"tags":[2237,1302],"class_list":["post-66418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy-and-skills","category-dcc-homepage","tag-cllr-cheryl-cottle-hunkin","tag-economy-and-skills"],"acf":[],"featured_image":{"ID":66420,"title":"Copy of hero image for news website (58)","alt":"Someone typing on a 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