3.7 million pounds to improve carers prospects in Wales

Hundreds of carers and former carers in Wales will have improved access to further education, employment, training and volunteering thanks to a £3.7 million funding package. Today’s announcement that five organisations will share £3,757,534 comes during Carers Week (June 14-20).

Under the Big Lottery Fund’s Life Skills project, the money has been awarded to support more than 1,500 carers in Wales, improving their chances of finding a job and gaining access to vital education, volunteering, training and employment opportunities.

The £14 million Life Skills project is a funding stream, which matches Big Lottery Fund (BIG) money with support from the European Social Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government. The project aims to help people who face multiple barriers, improve their Life Skills by increasing their confidence and re-engaging them in education, learning, volunteering or employment. Organisations awarded contracts under the latest rounds will deliver packages of support tailored to carers’ personal needs.

Mid and West Wales Chamber Ltd has been awarded contracts worth £1,215,521. Under one contract it is working in partnership with Crossroads Sir Gar and Crossroads Mid and West Wales, to deliver services to carers and former carers in Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion. Under the other contract, the Chamber will work in partnership with Crossroads Mid and West Wales to target carers and former carers in Powys. Services include raising awareness of projects and opportunities and recruiting and supporting 25 employers/voluntary organisations who are prepared to offer participants work experience placements.

Both Crossroads Care Swansea Neath Port Talbot and the Disability Advice Project have also been awarded contracts. Crossroads Care Swansea Neath Port Talbot will use £345,300 to deliver services to carers and former carers in Swansea. It leads a nine member consortium including Swansea Drugs Project and Swansea City Council, to improve carers’ quality of life through a support package. The Disability Advice Project was awarded £935,617 to help carers and former carers to overcome barriers to employment, learning, volunteering and leisure activities.

Newport City Council will spend £604,096 on supporting carers and former carers in the city while £657,000 has been awarded to NEWVOL, working in partnership with Action for Children and NEWCIS, to deliver services to carers and former carers across Denbighshire.

Ceri Doyle, Big Lottery Fund Director for Wales, said: "Research in Wales shows that 1 in 3 carers not currently working wanted to return to work if the right alternative care was available. This money will help provide that care and provide more employment and training opportunities for carers."

Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning, Leighton Andrews, said: "These contracts announced today will enable organisations to reach out to more carers and develop their skills to improve their long term employability. This demonstrates how our management of EU funds will help deliver lasting benefits to Welsh communities and the economy."

Underlining the importance of the funding in Wales, Roz Williamson, Director of Carers Wales, which is supporting Carers Week, said: "Money like this is crucial to help support carers who want to go back to work. Making it easier for carers to find employment is one of our key priorities."

Earlier this year, through Life Skills, over £2.4 million was awarded to four organisations to support 568 care leavers in Wales, improving their chances of finding a job and gaining access to vital education, volunteering, training and employment opportunities.

The Life Skills Project is just one of the funding streams delivered by the Big Lottery Fund. You can find out about any other programme by visiting www.biglotteryfund.org or you can phone the BIG advice line on 0845 10 20 30.