C&W project which has helped thousands of disadvantaged people under threat

A project which has helped thousands of disadvantaged people to build their confidence and find employment faces closure unless further funding is found over the winter.

The Accelerate project, managed by Coventry and Warwickshire CDA, is a partnership of local organisations which provides co-ordinated support for people who are at a disadvantage when looking for work.

Since its creation in 2016, it has supported 2,054 individuals (a 50/50 split of men and women) towards gaining employment. Those clients include 892 people with disabilities, 688 from ethnic minorities and 538 aged 50 or over who are ineligible for many other sources of similar support which are aimed at younger people.

Of those 2,054 clients, 1,411 said that they ended the project with increased confidence and ready to embark on the path to employment. But while every person helped towards work is celebrated, Accelerate is about much more than that.

Coventry and Warwickshire CDA Operations Manager, Mandy Bygrave, said: "We love it when clients enter employment and we are very proud of every one that achieves that, but success is measured in many ways other than getting a job...it could be learning a new language or just walking out of the front door for the first time in ages.

"Whatever the challenges that face an individual and whatever journey they are on, we are there with lots of support, whether that is mental health or wellbeing support, building confidence or through cooking, craft or online courses. It is a life-changing programme for those furthest from the job market.

“Accelerate can adapt to help anybody. It is inspirational for staff, partners and participants."

Guests at a recent event to celebrate the success off Accelerate included Deputy Mayor of Coventry, Cllr Jaswant Singh Birdi.

He said: "I am delighted to be here to recognise the success of an organisation which is so important to our community. Even in the dark days of the pandemic, Accelerate was there to help people in most need, to build their confidence and give them the tools to become a valuable part of the community.

"Congratulations to everyone involved. We need to find a way to ensure their wonderful work continues in the years ahead."

The need to find that way is urgent. The Accelerate project has been funded by the European Social Fund and the National Lottery Community Fund but that funding will expire in March 2023. The implications of that could not be more serious for the project and the many people which it supports and helps towards life-transforming career pathways.

"Our funding runs out next March so I would urge everyone to make the most of the project while it is still here," said Mandy. "If we are to continue beyond next spring, we require further funding - as it stands, there is none in place.

"The funding from Europe will be replaced by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund but that will not take over directly - there will be a year’s gap for funding to support employment support, which is catastrophic for the voluntary sector. So I would ask please, anyone that can, help us find more funding so we can keep supporting people that really need it, if not at the level we currently deliver, at least at some level so that there remains somewhere for these people to turn to.

“Anyone who comes forward to help enable the project to continue will be making a contribution almost beyond measure to the communities of Coventry and Warwickshire.”

For more information about the Accelerate Project, please visit https://www.accelerate.org.uk/

For more information about Coventry & Warwickshire CDA, please visit http://www.cwcda.co.uk/home