Projects > Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities

Focus to Work in partnership with Kent & Medway Social Enterprise Network has won a contract to run the Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities Fund in Kent and Medway to help local voluntary and community sector organisations to deliver and support learning opportunities for residents of disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

The Fund recognises that:

organisations in the voluntary and community sector should be supported to provide some of this learning, as they are so well placed to identify real need and have the credibility to involve people who may otherwise be disadvantaged or marginalized;

many organisations in the voluntary and community sector have a track record of innovative and successful learning provision, and are also close to the social and economic issues which affect work, crime, health, housing and environment;

some of these organisations could make a more significant and consistent contribution if they had resources to develop aspects of their provision;

mainstream funding is not always well adapted to the needs of small organisations, and we need a more flexible, responsive funding regime for this type of work.

To gain access to limited LSC mainstream funds, it is desirable for effective and long lasting partnerships to be established between LSC providers and the voluntary and community sector

The project will be:

• widening participation -attracting 'hard to reach' learners;
• ensuring that learning provision addresses local needs;
• improving skills for employment;
• improving skills for regenerating communities;
• delivering numeracy and literacy in the broadest range of settings;
• improving equality and diversity.