There are just two weeks remaining for businesses and organisations to submit applications to the City Ideas Fund to help tackle youth unemployment in the city.

The City Ideas Fund offers a one-off grant of between £500 and £10,000, for city employers, partners, voluntary organisations, community groups and individuals to develop ideas and plans which help young people into jobs and learning.

Applications for the first round of funding close on December 17, with ideas being sought to address some of the key challenges connected with reducing the number of unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds in the city from 2,660, including:

• ·       Helping young people to recognise their skills
• ·       Enabling employers to support young people with limited experience of work
• ·       Removing barriers to accessing services and employment
• ·       Engaging with families to support young people with their aspirations
• ·       Improving access to and awareness of available services
• ·       Developing more aspirational and engaging skills opportunities
• ·       Engaging with young people from different backgrounds

Information on eligibility and how to apply can be found online at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/cityideasfund. 

Businesses and organisations are urged to ensure they have all the correct evidence to add to the form and have read the requirements before starting their application.

City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, Councillor Ian Brookfield said: “I truly believe that this is a city that leaves no-one behind. But, to shift that dial, we need disruptive thinking, we need to shake things up – because all our best efforts to reduce youth unemployment to date, have not been enough.

“That is why we need to come together as ‘one city’ – as we’ve done throughout the pandemic – and we need to act because time is running out. We risk presiding over a ‘lost generation’ and we cannot keep kicking the can down the road.

“The new City Ideas Fund provides an initial £100,000 to stimulate fresh thinking.

“We will be assessing applications – with young people and partners – before Christmas with a view to get going and funding successful ideas, so I would urge businesses and organisations to act fast and submit their applications now.”

If you have an idea but not sure if it meets the criteria, we encourage you to apply anyway or for more information you can get in touch with the Council by emailing cityideasfund@wolverhampton.gov.uk or calling the City Ideas Fund phoneline on 01902 290242 (option 1) between 9am and 5pm from Monday to Thursday or from 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays.

All application forms submitted are subject to eligibility checks.

Further communication with businesses and organisations may be necessary if any of the required information is missing.

The deadline for the first round of applications is midday on Friday, December 17, 2021.