The Big Lottery Fund is matching funds from the European Social Fund (ESF) 2014-2020 to provide joint investment in two local projects tackling poverty, promoting social inclusion and boosting local economies.
The projects in Liverpool City Region will help ensure local people will have basic online skills and the confidence to access digital technologies, as well as helping to develop the financial skills of over 18s in the region.
Robert Hough, Liverpool City Region LEP Chair and Co-chair of the ESIF committee said: “These two projects are a vital step in promoting more financial and digital inclusion in the Liverpool City Region. Despite improvements we are still lagging behind national averages and thereby disadvantaging our communities in basic skills needed for the modern world.
“With more and more services being made available online it is important we ensure everyone can access and make use of all that is available digitally; and supporting residents to have a better financial and debt profile will mean that they will be able to retain more of what they earn themselves.”
Cllr Phil Davies, Leader of Wirral Council and Co-chair of the ESIF committee said: “We have listened to the community and voluntary sector to understand what the gaps and needs are in our local communities, and have identified digital and financial as the two areas that will help people reach their potential. This initiative is also a good example of us working together with the Big Lottery Fund and our community and voluntary sector organisations to help our residents.”
The Big Lottery Fund is working with Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and their decision-making committees across England who have identified projects that best meet local need and priorities. From today organisations will be able to apply for funding to deliver these projects, including voluntary and community and social enterprise groups, who have historically found it hard to apply for and manage EU funding.
Dawn Austwick, Chief Executive of the Big Lottery Fund said “Working with Local Enterprise Partnerships across the North West, these projects will enable people to overcome challenges and improve their long-term job prospects. This valuable partnership will create new opportunities for groups to focus on issues specific to their local communities.”
Potential applicants with questions about the stage one application process should view the FAQs available here www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/bbofaq. The closing date for applications is 12 noon 30 November 2015.