The Coalfields Regeneration Trust Fund in the West Midlands

1. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust Fund in the West Midlands Newsletter No. June 2009 Welcome to the fourth newsletter from the West Midlands Coalfields Regeneration Trust team. We would like to thank all of you who helped us to achieve our spend in the first year of this three-year programme. In this newsletter we will report on some policy changes to our funding programmes, what grant funding has been awarded and some of the projects that have benefited and also introduce the new Family Employment Initiative team which has set up in Newcastle-under-Lyme. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust The Coalfields Regeneration Trust is an independent grant-making body. We are a registered charity and limited by guarantee, governed by a board of trustees. Our mission is: “Working closely with partners, the Trust is a key agency promoting and achieving social and economic regeneration in the coalfields of England, Scotland and Wales” We run two grant programmes: Bridging the Gap Main Grants These funding programmes both run for three years from April 2008 to March 2011. We also run two strategic programmes in the West Midlands called Sports Legacy, Debt Response and Family Employment. Policy Change At a recent meeting of the CRT Trust’s Board a number of policy changes were made to our Main Grants and Bridging the Gap Programmes.

2. For the Main Grants Programme the following policy change was made: • A tapered cap on all applications has been introduced limiting the maximum award of grants that could be awarded throughout the lifetime of the grants programme. This is detailed below: • Applications made in year 1 (2008/2009) - £300,000 cap. • Applications made in year 2 (2009/2010) - £200,000 cap. • Applications made in year 3 (2010/2011) - £100,000 cap. • For the Bridging the Gap Programme the following policy changes were made: • The maximum grant award has been reduced from £10,000 to £5,000. • Projects must clearly show they benefit coalfield communities within the most deprived 50% (area of benefit) in the country (based on the Government’s Indices of Deprivation 2007). • Trustees try to avoid a change of policy that can impact on applicants but excess demand for limited resources has required some very difficult decisions to be made. • Funding will be prioritised to projects that will directly contribute to our outstanding and overall strategic objectives. • This means that priority will be given to projects that either deliver one of the following outputs: • Adults gaining NVQ2 or above. • Assist people into work. • Transport/access scheme. • Or, • Deliver in an identified CRT cold spot (contact the regional office for list of cold spot wards). • Please note, it does not make a project ineligible if it does not deliver one of these outputs or deliver in a cold spot area but it will help its chances of success in a very competitive environment. • These new policies were adopted on the 13th May 2009 and will be applied to all projects from that date. On this basis applicants are being contacted to determine the impact on their project. Bridging the Gap The Bridging the Gap programme has a revised application and information booklet. Please contact the regional office if you would like one sent.

3. Sports Legacy Initiative • Sports Legacy is a programme run by the Trust which was inspired by the 2012 Games to give boys and girls aged 8-14 the opportunity to take part in local fun & fitness athletic activities. • It will: • Support Volunteers and Coaches through a Coach Education programme. • Provide Volunteers and Coaches with an extensive Mentoring programme. • Encourage support and guide Volunteers and Coaches into employment . • Funding for 2009-2010 is very limited. Partnership working will be encouraged. Sports Legacy – National Community Fun Festival Are you looking for some fun this summer? Do you live in the West Midlands? If yes read on…………… We are looking for teams to take part in a National Community Fun Day. What: An afternoon of fun through sporting activities based on ‘Fun in athletics’. Consisting of a circuit of 20 activities, such as: Hot stepping, hurdles, space hopper, obstacle relay, skipping relay, javelin, target throw and many more. When: Sunday 9th August @ Mount St Mary’s College Chesterfield, Derbyshire Time: 12 noon – 4 pm Who: Open to all abilities, from Coalfield Wards – please contact the regional office for a list of eligible wards. Age: 5 years – 7 years 8 years – 11 years 12 years – 14 years Two volunteers per team must attend and will be required to complete a CRB check. Deadline for applications: Wednesday 24th June 2009. If you would like any more information and would like to enter a team please contact: Andrea Gumbs North West & West Midlands Sports Legacy Co-ordinator andrea.gumbs@coalfields-regen.org.uk 07929834355

4. The Family Employment Initiative – Newcastle-under-Lyme The Family Employment Initiative (FEI), managed by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) is a new initiative within Newcastle-under-Lyme aimed at supporting unemployed residents into training and employment. CRT already has a successful track record of supporting unemployed residents into work, with the East Midlands’ FEI already assisting more than 500 people back into work since it began in 2006. The FEI Team consists of four full-time members of staff: Co-ordinator – Karen Bates, two Community Employment Advisors – Nikki Cooke & Lou Smith, and a Programme Support Officer – Sam Shaw. The team is supported by Meg Hankinson, Employment and Skills Development, tel: 07967 328038. The FEI programme is targeted at those wards within Newcastle-under-Lyme with the highest levels of deprivation / highest number of benefit claimants. The wards are as follows: Chesterton, Cross Heath, Holditch, Knutton & Silverdale, and Silverdale & Parksite. The team are based at 23 High Street, Knutton, although advisors work at various outreach locations to ensure access is not a barrier to participation. Outreach venues include: The Salvation Army Community Centre in Chesterton, Ramsey Road Community Centre in Cross Heath and Parksite Action Centre in Parksite. Community Employment Advisors work with clients on a 1-to-1 basis to identify barriers to accessing employment. The advisor and client then produce a detailed action plan to help the client move into employment. Support may be given around accessing training, volunteering, work experience, producing a CV, completing an application form, interviews and more. Clients will also be signposted to specialist support services in order to access other support such as debt advice. The advisor remains with the client throughout the whole journey and even offers in work support / mentoring. Although the initiative is still in its early stages the team are already working with over 30 clients and have already assisted 2 clients into work. For further information please call the FEI Team on 01782 618906.

5. Debt Management and Income Maximisation The Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Department for Communities and Local Government have jointly committed funding to help organisations in the West Midlands extend their debt advice and money management services to help deal with the effects of the recession in areas that need support the most. A partnership led by Stoke-on-Trent CAB have developed a programme to enhance debt advice and money management services. They are currently recruiting and the extended services will be delivered over the next 12 months. • Grant Awarded • The grant programmes between them have awarded over £179 million to projects across England, Scotland and Wales since the Coalfields Regeneration Trust was set up in 1999. Of this £14.3 million has been awarded to the West Midlands in support of over 385 projects. • Over the last financial year, 2008/09, £4.1 million has been awarded to projects in the West Midlands supporting over 90 projects. A range of projects have been supported from a range of voluntary and community, statutory organisations. • Types of projects we have funded so far: • Community worker to support young people who are in danger of falling out of their education. • Training and support for homeless families. • Refurbishment of building to create training facility for NEETs. • Community training programme offering training opportunities to help local people access the job market. • Provision of opportunities for young people to help overcome barriers to personal development and getting into jobs and training. • Support to help people with learning difficulties progress to employment. • Minibus to transport people to learning and skills development venues. • Minibus for an after school club . • Outreach job club. • Extension of a community centre. • Creation of an IT training room. • Purchase of premises for a social enterprise. • Small loans scheme for start-up businesses. • Support services for voluntary and community sector groups and social enterprises. • Creation of units for the creative industries sector • Refurbishment of The Dudson Centre, a base for community and voluntary sector organisations • Development of girls’ rugby.

6. Feasibility Studies / Preliminary Works The CRT will no longer fund feasibility studies / preliminary works. The Regional Office Team Programme Manager – Suzanne Clarke Support Worker – Noelle Hillman To contact us: Tel: 01782 563112 Mobile: 07977512985 Fax: 01782 296541 E-mail: suzanne.clarke@coalfields-regen.org.uk E-mail: noelle.hillman@coalfields-regen.org.uk Address: Lymedale Business Centre Lymedale Business Park Hooters Hall Road Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire ST5 9QF