The aim of the funding is to support local voluntary and community sector organisations develop their capacity to deliver learning opportunities for residents of disadv antaged neighbourhoods. The priority recipients of this fund are voluntary and community sector organisations involved in the direct delivery of learning or who are working in partnership with providers that are offering learning, but the fund is also available to a wide range of other organisations. Rotherham has been awarded £189,530 to spend between August 2003 and July 2004, and organisations that can apply for the funding include:



Voluntary and community organisations.
Local Education Authorities, colleges, community centres and schools.
Outreach projects, learndirect centres, UK Online centres, providers of Adult Community Learning and a wide range of other organisations.

Projects that will be supported include:

• Training that will: help local people develop roles in community leadership or as community champions; support those working or willing to work as communi ty tutors to gain relevant qualifications, e.g. as teachers or assessors; support the development of voluntary and community sector training providers to meet the Learning and Skills Cuoncil provider assessment criteria; staff and management training for those involved with local voluntary and community groups.
  
• Knowledge and skills development through: Work Shadowing activities; new ways to attract excluded and under-represented groups in to learning; mapping learning opportunities that are offered in neighbourhood centres; development of a consortium of voluntary sector providers who would not be able to access Learning and Skills Council mainstream funds.
  
• Premises and infrastructure that will: refurbishment and improvements to existing premises for eligible groups; establishment of new learning centres in areas where none previously existed; securing ICT provision for eligible groups.
  
• Projects should in particular: concentrate on reducing worklessness; improve skills for employment; support the regeneration of communities; engage disadvantaged groups in the community.

Further information about the Neighbourhood Learning Fund in Rotherham and how to apply is available from the Partnership Office. Contact Diane Mosely, Learning Officer (Adult Basic Skills):
Telephone: 01709 310 496
Email: d.mosely@react.org.uk