Engagement Gateway

Wrexham Engagement Gateway Newsletter

January 2012

The aim of the Engagement Gateway is to reduce economic inactivity across Wales and improve the employability of disadvantaged groups in society.

Engagement Gateway is a competitive grant scheme supported by £5 million from the European Social Fund (ESF), under the RCE areas of Wales, which replaces the Objective 3 programme.

Projects under the scheme will prepare people who are seen as "marginalised from the labour market" for work through developing a range of skills and experiences.

Participants who are eligible to take part must be Economically Inactive 16 years+ with a National Insurance number and not in employment or full time education.

All tender/application rounds have now closed

The Difference between Contracts and Grants

There are two different types of Engagement Gateway projects Contract and Grants

Contracts are open to: Anyone who is 16+ with a NI number who is not in full time education. Contracts can have participants from both JSA/ESA claimants and economically inactive.

Grants are open to: Anyone who is 16+ with a NI number who is not in full time education. Grants can only have participants who are classed as economically inactive and cannot have participants who are claiming JSA/ESA.

What is Economically Inactive?

• People in receipt of Incapacity Benefit

• People in receipt of Income Support

• Retired people wishing to re-enter the labour market

• Young people aged 16 and 17 not in employment, education or training

• Lone parents (until the youngest child reaches 7 years old)

• People with a work-limiting health condition

• People who are employed for less than 16 hours per week

• People who are out of work but do not claim any benefits

• People who are supported by a partner or parent but not earning themselves.

Life After Gateway

All projects end on 30th June 2012 presently there is no information on future funding. For funding advice contact Heather Hicks at AVOW or Sustainable Funding Cymru at http://www.sustainablefundingcymru.org.uk/