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Building Better Opportunities

We run a number of services which are part of the Building Better Opportunities programme, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) and the National Lottery Community Fund.

The Building Better Opportunities project has received up to £300 million of funding from the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England and has recently been extended to March 2022.

The Department for Work and Pensions is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. The European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations.

  • National Lottery Community Fund

Connecting Choices – Stoke

Connecting Choices works in partnership with the Stoke Recovery Service to help people gain the confidence to move towards education, training, volunteering or employment. This is done through one-to-one coaching, support and review sessions, and local group activities.

We can help if you are:

  • 16 years and over
  • unemployed or economically inactive
  • have complex needs or multiple barriers
  • require support to fully and independently engage in existing services
  • are a legal resident in the UK and can receive paid employment

Connecting Choices can offer support with everything from your job search and volunteering and work placements, through to digital skills sessions, financial advice and childcare.

The Connecting Choices programme is managed by Ixion Holdings, part of Shaw Trust. Ixion believes in fairness, equality and opportunity, and helping to build a future where rewarding employment is accessible for all.

Connecting Choices runs in: Baddeley, Milton & Norton, Bentilee & Ubberley, Etruria & Hanley, Tunstall, Burslem Central, Burslem South, Meir North, Blurton West & Newstead, Abbey Hulton & Townsend.

To see more about Stoke Recovery Service, visit Our programmes.

Positive People - Cornwall

Positive People (known as Poosedhogyon in Cornish) helps people who are out of work to build their skills, confidence and motivation.

Positive People can help with everything from literacy and numeracy skills to digital technology training and preparation for work including help with job searching.

The partners are Pluss, Cornwall Neighbourhoods 4 Change, Cornwall Marine Network, CHAOS, Active Plus, With You, Lizard Pathways, Pirate FM, Cornwall Voluntary Sector and Cornwall College.

The programme covers the Coast to Coast and South and East LAG regions of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This includes Redruth, Truro, Falmouth, St Austell, Liskeard and Saltash.

How to join the programme

If you’re already working with With You, ask your team to refer you to one of our Change Coaches for an initial chat.

If you're not working with us, please contact the central Positive People Team on 07813 626403 or email us at BBOreferrals@wearewithyou.org.uk.

Visit our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wearewithyoucornwall

  • Positive People

Who Dares Works - Cornwall

Who Dares Works is a partnership of 17 organisations in West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, led and managed by Active Plus. Courses are delivered by military veterans.

Who Dares Works supports people who face barriers and challenges to connecting or reconnecting with education, training and work. This project aims to create lasting change for people, communities and the workforce of the future. The veterans use their skills, experience and expertise to build confidence, motivation and the self-belief to take the next steps towards training and work.

Alongside the courses, people can tap into a range of specialist support to overcome specific barriers and a host of work-related activities from volunteering to community projects, taster days to work experience.

Who Dares Works participants can also get fully involved in the development, delivery and management of the project.

How to join the programme

If you're already working with With You, ask your team to refer you to one of our mentors for an initial chat.

If you're not working with us, please contact the central Who Dares Works Team on 01872 300326.

  • Who Dares Works