Living/Learning Grants programme

Living/Learning grants is a grants programme funded by the London Learning and Skills Councils Widening Adult Participation Action Fund (WAPAF) and by European Social Fund through the London ESF Global Grants Programme. The programme is supported by NIACE (National Institute for Adult and Continuing Education). Small grants of up to £10,000 are awarded to small non-governmental organisations, particularly in the voluntary and community sector, to deliver structured learning programmes.

The grant targets those who face the most difficulty in entering the labour market including refugees, people with disabilities, ex- offenders, lone parents and black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals who are not engaging with other learning programmes. The programme runs for two years, 2004-06.

Applications for the first year had to be submitted by 14th January 2005, with 335 applications received by the deadline. Similar to Fast Forward Grants, application was through a simple application form which had to demonstrate that the project met five eligibility criteria:

1. the organisation is eligible
2. the actions will help people towards employment
3. the people helped are unemployed and facing significant difficulties
4. the expenditure meets a few simple rules
5. it is preferable that there is a link with a larger learning provider who can support accredited learning.

For an organisation to be eligible it must have been:

- formally constituted by 1st December 2003
- had no more than three full time paid staff or equivalent
- had no more than £100,000 income in the last complete financial year

Part of the application form was scored with all eligible applications reviewed by an appraisal panel made up of funders, Government office for London and voluntary sector representatives.

In 2004-05, 42 funded organisations delivered Living/Learning projects across London. Those organisations who had satisfactorily completed their first project were invited to submit an application form by 28 September 2005 for a further grant up to £10,000 to extend their projects.

In 2005-06, 37 funded organisations delivering Living/Learning projects with most due to complete by Easter 2006. All 37 groups are linking with a larger organisation to support the learning projects. You can view the case studies for examples of the types of project that have been funded.

Download the London Living Learning report 2004-06

The Living/ Learning Grants programme is managed and supported by GLE as the intermediary body, under contract to Government Office for London.