Action For Inclusion header, includes Action For Inclusion logo and a group of young people.

A network of professionals and organisations who are working together to develop and improve education for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities in the FE sector.

Specialist Mediation

Action for Inclusion Ltd's Specialist Mediation Service available for disabled people and their families.  All our mediators have mediation qualifications and significant experience at managerial level in Further Education and the S139a process.

We have also worked collaboratively with Local Education Authorities. Our services are rigorously monitored to ensure that professional standards are maintained.  Please see the Specialist Mediation Service area of the website for further information and how to request mediation from AfI Ltd

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Of interest to Organisations dealing with:
Learning, Lone Parents, Women, Health/Disability Issues, Older People, BME, Unemployment, The ESF Community Fund 2011-2013 has just been launched with grants of up to £12,000 available to third sector organisations in the South East who support the most disadvantaged individuals to access further learning opportunities or progress to employment. People benefitting from these grants will be experiencing barriers to access services and will not be in paid work, or will be economically inactive.

Eligibility
You must be a charity (not necessarily registered), community group or a not-for-profit organisation.
 
The aim of the ESF Community Grants is to fund small organisations and priority will be given to those who have been in receipt of less than a total of £300,000 income over their last three financial years. It is the parent/umbrella group Statement of Financial Activity (SOFA) figure that must be used in assessing group income/turnover and there will be a limit of £2,000,000 imposed on all applications over this three year period.
 
You must be based and provide your services in South East England (not including London boroughs).

What For?
Priority will be given to groups who work with:

Lone parents
Women
People with health/disability issues
Older people
People from ethnic minorities & diverse communities

The minimum age is 18 years.

The programme will support a range of activities that may include:
Initial help with basic skills.
Taster work experience including voluntary work.
Training advice and guidance.
Job search assistance.
Confidence building and personal development.
First contact engagement activities, e.g. to provide support to individuals overcome barriers to learning and/or employment. 

Who cannot be funded?

Individuals.
Statutory organisations (such as local authorities, schools or colleges).
Voluntary Sector activities that are intended solely to benefit the users of statutory service (such as projects benefiting schools).
Organisations that are affiliated to, and receive funding from, national organisations    
Political groups or activities promoting political beliefs or activities promoting religious beliefs.
Grant-making bodies applying for funding to redistribute to individuals or groups.
Counselling for personal issues is not eligible for funding.
People in employment.
People under 18 years of age

How Much?
Up to £12,000

Deadline
There will be four rounds with the first application deadlines being Friday 28th October 2011. The subsequent deadlines are: Friday 17th February 2012, Friday 24th August 2012 and Friday 11th January 2013. All applications must be received by 12 noon.
 
All projects are to be completed by 30th September 2013.

For more information and how to apply see this link.