Warwickshire successful in bid for Government’s Community Renewal Fund

Three community projects in Warwickshire are set to benefit from government funding and council support to help people of all ages and backgrounds find employment.

Warwickshire County Council will receive funding of over £2.7m from the Government’s Community Renewal Fund to invest in skills and training to boost business growth and to support the local workforce.

The projects will focus on supporting people into employment through cognitive mentoring, with a strong focus on mental health and wellbeing, and providing training focused on self-employment skills.

They will also detail funding to reach unemployed and disadvantaged groups through camps, youth clubs, rural career workshops, employer focused SEND employment and e-sports activities for young gaming enthusiasts.

The County Council, jointly with partners including the district and borough councils and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP), assessed and approved for submission to the Government a range of bids from the voluntary and community sector as well as private companies and public sector bodies seeking funding from the Community Renewal Fund. 

Warwickshire’s performance in having three successful applicants and receiving £2.7m funding is particularly impressive as the county was not initially among the 100 priority places identified by the Government when it first invited submissions for the Community Renewal Fund.

The council will be working with the successful organisations to deliver their projects before the end of June 2022.

Cllr Kam Kaur, portfolio holder for economy and place said: “We are delighted that schemes in Warwickshire have been awarded this funding. It will be used to make a real difference increasing our skills so that we can be at the forefront of emerging markets.

“The benefits will be felt across many of our communities. For businesses, there will be an upsurge in skills and potential workforce in future growth sectors, unblocking the barrier to growth where there is not a suitably qualified workforce.

“And for residents, particularly young people and under-represented groups, it will open up opportunities for training that will greatly increase their employability.”