A series of 12-month employment support projects focused on supporting out-of-work residents into, or back into, employment commenced on Tuesday 1 April.
Following Opportunity Sheffield’s initial wave of Pathways to Work commissioning, which took place in February and March, 15 projects have received funding.
The Council’s Employment & Skills Service has commissioned a combination of geographically targeted and cohort specialist contract, as follows:
Location-based
- North-East – SOAR
- Central East – Manor & Castle Development Trust
- Outer East – Tinsley Forum
- Central North – REED in Partnership
- Central West – Zest
- Central South – The Growth Company
Specialist
- Ethnic Minorities – Sharrow Community Forum
- Ethnic Minorities – Equal Communities
- Ethnic Minorities – Infinite Skills
- Ethnic Minorities – Firvale Community Hub
- Autism and Learning Difficulties – Autism Plus
- Physical Disabilities – Down2u Health & Wellbeing
- IPS for vulnerable groups – Depaul UK
- Ex-offender – Manor & Castle Development Trust
- Refugees & Asylum Seekers – Voluntary Action Sheffield
Additional commissions will be announced in the coming weeks, including additional location-based projects and wraparound provision for participants supported on Pathways to Work.
Opportunity Sheffield is planning an additional round of procurement in April, with a view to addressing potential gaps in provision. Tender opportunities will be published on the YORtender procurement portal.
Eligibility for Pathways to Work
Sheffield’s Pathways to Work programme is funded by the Department for Work & Pensions Economic Inactivity Trailblazer.
Economically inactive residents who are aged 16+, live in Sheffield and have the right to live and work in the UK are eligible to join the programme.
Keyworkers can also work with unemployed residents (i.e. claiming UC/JSA via the Jobcentre) who are at risk of social exclusion and would benefit from additional community based support. This activity is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with investment from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Referrals are invited to opportunity@sheffield.gov.uk for triage, or can be referred directly to community partners. Eligible residents who live in Barnsley, Doncaster or Rotherham can be referred to the relevant local authority for support on Pathways to Work, which is a regional initiative overseen by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
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