Lead Organisation:
Coleg Cambria

Contact:
Vicky Barwis

E-mail:
vicky.barwis@cambria.ac.uk

Website:
www.cambria.ac.uk

The project will support employers in identifying and meeting training needs and skills gaps to achieve future growth and strategic objectives within their business. The project will deliver these workforce development programmes where they are not already served by other programmes such as the Apprenticeship and Personal learning account activities. The project will ensure that employers can access support for the skills that will help their business and allow their employees to develop additional skills. This will increase the skills base of the local economy. The skills offered will be cross sector and will consist of accredited and non-accredited courses. The project will work with each company to identify the training required and will offer tailored work-relevant training packages to employees of Flintshire businesses at Levels 2-7. This includes a business-wide diagnostic to identify skills gaps and training needs, providing a range of solutions in terms of qualifications, timings, and form of delivery.

These will be matched to each business and are anticipated to include:

• Full accredited qualifications
• Units of qualifications
• Non accredited Skills training
• Vendor Qualifications

This will be offered to all sectors but will specifically target regional growth areas including:

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Low Carbon
• Digital
• Agri Food and Tourism
• Health and Social Care
• Management and other professional services

Lead Organisation:
Coleg Cambria

Contact:
Vicky Barwis

E-mail:
vicky.barwis@cambria.ac.uk

Website:
www.cambria.ac.uk

Supportive Steps will provide a bespoke package of mentoring support for participants aged 16-25 who are identified as the most vulnerable and likely to become NEET.

The package will include:

• 1-2-1 support
• Counselling sessions
• Resilience Coaching
• Skills catch up sessions
• Information, advice and guidance
• High impact events to work on social skills
• Signposting to external organisations
• Support to improve attendance
• Personalised Plans with regular reviews
• Informal Breakfast and lunch support sessions
• Mental Health and Wellbeing Events including Active Wellbeing sessions
• Support with progression

Learners will be identified through a variety of measure including attendance, safeguarding referrals, staff referral and self-referral. They will be assessed by the team and a package of support put in place. The project will be delivered by staff at the college.

Name of Lead Organisation:
We Mind the Gaps

Contact:
Ali Wheeler

E-mail:
ali@wemindthegap.org.uk

Website:
www.wemindthegap.org.uk

The project will involve the tried and tested WeGrow employability model of 26 weeks paid work delivered to 10 young people furthest from the open labour market with complex needs. Those 10 young people will gain from the holistic model providing work placement opportunities, experiences and skills designed to build confidence, and resilience with an expectation that 7 out of 10 will progress into further full-time employment. Each will be allocated an external life coach to help build resilience, learn goal setting and understand their own barriers to progression. Each work placement concludes with a 360-degree feedback session demonstrating to the young people what good feedback looks like and help them understand key skills of listening and accountability. Each participant will benefit from three residential trips, building team building skills, allowing them to challenge themselves in a safe environment and to visit London and their MP to demonstrate how they have found their voice and talk about their experiences. Building on the success of the continuum approach, the project will seek to transition current beneficiaries on the WeDiscover programme to apply for places on the employability programme, WeGrow.

Building on the learnings from the Appreciative Inquiry, Employers Strand, the project will work to reach a far wider group of employers across the county, and seek to understand their challenges of recruitment, retention and succession planning.  Recognising that work experience drives progression, the project will seek to deliver opportunities to all young people in Flintshire not just those furthest from employment in our WeGrow model. The project will explore how to signpost apprenticeships and the mechanics of those schemes, the application process and the barriers, real and perceived, of young people in pursuing this route. The project will continue to deliver WeDiscover as the first step in progression via its dedicated online Learning Management Platform, ‘Discovery City’. This will be funded by other income streams but delivered for the benefit of Flintshire young people and within the continuum model delivered under UKSPF yrs 2 – 3. The project will be based in Flint with connectivity hubs in public libraries, leisure centres and shared spaces across community.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Action for Children

Contact:
Elizabeth Webb

E-mail:
elizabeth.webb@actionforchildren.org.uk

Website:
actionforchildren.org.uk

The project creates safer neighbourhoods/communities by reducing exploitation, violence, and organised crime through a multi-agency strategy. It will continue to offer specialised one-on-one interventions to young people from the ages 11-18 and community outreach tailored to support individuals at risk of criminal activity or exploitation. The approach will include peer mentoring, diversionary activities, and re-engagement in education, training, sports, and employment.

Specialist One-on-One Support – the project will continue to provide personalised support, family assistance, peer mentoring, group activities, and diversionary programs. The team addresses the needs and vulnerabilities of at-risk children and young people. The project will continue the success of the program, retaining and training specialised staff with lived experience in offending, substance use, and exploitation. It will support parents and families to promote whole-family engagement in reducing risk and promoting wellbeing.

Community Outreach – the project will carry on complementing the Youth Justice / Sorted outreach model by including Action for Children workers in areas identified by the MET. CEIS will also continue to align community engagement work alongside local drug and alcohol in the community provisions and engage at-risk individuals in mainstream or targeted services. Ongoing community consultations and surveys will ensure that community engagement is at the heart of the project, encouraging real understanding and insight into the concerns.

The project aims to:

• Identify and divert children at risk of exploitation, modern slavery, serious offending, and criminal activity.
• Offer support and opportunities for those at risk of exploitation, coercion, or anti-social behaviour.
• Support children and families to address vulnerabilities and reduce criminal activity.
• Use peer mentors and specialist staff as positive role models.
• Reduce community concerns linked to anti-social behaviour and criminal activity.
• Improve knowledge and awareness of risks in the community.
• Increase participation in positive activities like sports, theatre, and education.
• Enhance skills and positive outcomes for at-risk children and young people, including engagement with professionals, education, training, and employment.

The project seeks to achieve:

• Short-term benefits - continue identifying and diverting children at risk, offering support for diversionary activities, and improving motivation and capacity to make a bigger positive change.
• Long-term benefits - reducing community concerns linked to anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, building resilience in children, and improving individual and community knowledge and awareness of risks.
• Beneficiaries - Children and young people aged 11-18 and their parents/carers or significant adults who are at risk of:
  • Prolific offending linked to serious criminal activity/organised crime
  • Modern slavery and human trafficking
  • Family connection to serious criminal activity/organised crime
  • Changes to networks/peer groups with specific reference to exploitation and organised crime
  • Criminal or specialist skills/abilities attractive to organised crime groups
  • Signs of exploitation
  • Characteristic vulnerabilities seeking status, belonging, and peer acceptance
  • Financial difficulties suggesting engagement with exploitive activities

Name of Lead Organisation:
Flintshire County Council

Contact:
Claire Worrall

E-mail:
claire.worrall@flintshire.gov.uk

Website:
www.flintshire.gov.uk

The Project will offer free, flexible opportunities for all adults aged 19 or over, to improve their basic skills in numeracy, literacy digital and ESOL with the option to gain a qualification. 

Broader interventions will allow Strength in Numbers to offer:

• Innovative and creative basic skills courses up to L2 so that learners have a greater choice of how and where to learn
• A range of practical engagement courses to address perceived barriers to learning
• Continuation of collaboration with partners, to ensure referrals are being identified and actioned for target learners and minimising duplication

The project will achieve the following:

• Delivery of up to and including accredited Level 2 numeracy courses aimed at people who cannot apply for certain jobs because of a lack of numeracy skills and/or to encourage people to upskill to access a certain job/career
• Community programmes including outreach engagement activities for those learners that are the hardest to reach, these learner groups have been identified through work with current community and third sector groups
• Opportunities to improve basic skills in numeracy, literacy, digital and ESOL 
• 1:1 Numeracy support in the community

Who will deliver the interventions:

Through local engagement activities, networking and holding lessons learnt workshops Strength in Numbers established professional relationships with a diverse range of delivery partners who offered inclusive, high quality, innovative programmes.  The project will continue working with those partners as it moves into the transition year. This funding will allow delivery partners to transition their programmes too, adapting them to meet the new interventions and roll out new activities for Flintshire adults. The project will continue to build on existing engagement that has already been established through Strength in Numbers activities.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Flintshire County Council

Contact:
Dan Larkin

E-mail:
dan.larkin@flintshire.gov.uk

Website:
www.flintshire.gov.uk

The project seeks to build on existing engagement that has already been established through LEAP. Providing a holistic package of support, engagement and learning that will have a meaningful impact on all beneficiaries. Tailored/more intensive support and intervention is needed for those already excluded/not attending school, using school data, with potential to engage parents, where appropriate.

One to one tailored support to reduce barriers to education includes:

• Ruth Dive
  Small group interventions and engagement opportunities to enable beneficiaries to access training and education including settings such as FE or ACL.
• Fresh Start
  Offering alternative curriculum activities to pupils who are at risk of or have been excluded. 
• CIC
  Small group sessions delivering basic and life skills.
• Deeside Community Trust 
  Traditional/heritage crafts, basic and life skills courses.
• Xplore
  Forest School activities to support the development of skills.
• Multiply Collaboration
  Work with other SPF projects to offer a broader package of intervention which includes numeracy and progression to higher level, accredited or additional training.
• Clwyd Alun
  Continue the work offering courses at the construction unit to young adults including CSCS cards to allow work experience opportunities.
• Family Information Days
  invite specific services to promote the work they do that supports young adults and their families, removing barriers to learning, training and  Work in cohesion with Flintshire’s Market pitch Co-Ordinator to plan and deliver. 

The delivery of accredited courses designed to build confidence and aid participants on next steps. The services above who offer accredited courses are CIC, Deeside Community Trust, Xplore.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Flintshire County Council

Contact:
Karen Whitney-Lang

E-mail:
karen.whitney-lang@flintshire.gov.uk

Website:
www.flintshire.gov.uk

The proposed project comprises the following 6 elements:

• Town Centre Property Improvement Grant Scheme
  A minimum of 3 properties will be completed and an estimated 100 m2 of commercial floorspace will be improved through this project. Capital grants of between £5,000 and £50,000 will be awarded funds via a grants scheme. Up to 70% of project costs will be funded through SPF and 30% will be funded by each beneficiary (property owners/ long-term tenants
• Developing projects for future investment
  This project will involve commissioning work such as feasibility studies, masterplans, business cases to inform future town centre regeneration investment. A minimum of 3 studies will be completed.  The project will involve working in partnership with key beneficiaries, and will take forwards priorities from town centre Place Making Plans (developed over the last 18 months). 
• Investment in Green Spaces
  This project will implement green infrastructure improvements in a minimum of 2 towns within Flintshire and will include initiatives such as street planting/ urban trees, key gateway features improvements and public realm improvements. These activities will benefit local businesses, and the environment by helping to increase the attractiveness of the towns.  The investment will be delivered on FCC owned land.
• Markets Promotion and Engagement
  The Promotion and Engagement Officer will be responsible for engaging with market stallholders and key stakeholders as well as delivering communication/ promotional campaigns aimed at supporting increased usage of the markets. The project will provide direct support to existing and emerging businesses (beneficiaries) and play a key role in scoping out a future strategy for markets in Flintshire.
• Town Centre Events & Activities Grant Scheme
  This scheme will provide grant support from £500 up to £10,000 per application to deliver town centre events/ activities. Expected beneficiaries include community/ voluntary organisations, businesses and town councils.  This scheme seeks to increase engagement amongst local people and explore how town centre spaces, land and premises can be used as venue for proposed activities/events. 
• Place Making Plan activity
  This project builds upon the Place Making Plan development work undertaken in the previous SPF project. The main project beneficiary will be the County Council which in turn will help a range of stakeholders from the public, private and community sectors to be involved and benefit. 

Name of Lead Organisation:
Flintshire County Council

Contact:
Isobel Smith

E-mail:
isobel.smith@flintshire.gov.uk

Website:
www.flintshire.gov.uk/en/LeisureAndTourism/Countryside-and-Coast/Home.aspxm

The proposed activities and services will include the following:

• Continuation of role of 'Connecting Coast to Countryside Development Officer' to provide consistency and further progress work for Flintshire Coast Park, based upon the building blocks and successes of SPF1.
• Flintshire Coast Park Marketing and Promotions
  Increase awareness of the natural environment and Coast Park through developing online content and Interpretation:
  • Production of 'Discover Flintshire Coast' leaflet.
  • Online social media content and establishing a Flintshire Coast Park webpage.
  • Creation of a Volunteering leaflet and webpage.
• Coordination of Events and Activities
  • Support events: x 5 at Coast Park locations working with community groups and organisations such as Bagillt Community Action Group. 
  • Strengthen the connection of the coast with the local community and businesses through volunteering opportunities, stakeholder engagement x 60 volunteers
  • Working closely with FCC Business Team to promote corporate volunteering to established Flintshire businesses.
  • Creation of content for Flintshire Local Voluntary Council to promote volunteering at coast and countryside locations.  
• Flintshire Coast Park Green Infrastructure and improvement Works
  • Deliver a series of initiatives to enhance green infrastructure, including biodiversity enhancements tree, hedge planting, plug planting and seeding of native varieties to enhance habitats, and support pollinators and wildlife.
  • Access projects such as frame removal and improving accessibility in conjunction with disability user groups and organisations e.g. Ramblers.
  • Delivery of environmental improvements identified in the Year 1 Flintshire Coast Park Management Plan objectives including Fencing natterjack area and Flint viewpoint improvements.
  • Asset Improvements: x 5 - at key coastal hub including Talacre boardwalk.
• Consultancy
  • Feasibility Studies x 4 - Flint Flushing Pools, Talacre Visitor Impact Assessment, Greenfield Dock Building Spec. and Llanerch y Mor Flood Study.
• Development & Promotion of the Visitor Economy
  • Delivery and co-ordination of activities and implementation of methods for collating accurate visitor numbers.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Greenfield Valley Trust

Contact:
Helen Mrowiec

E-mail:
helen.mrowiec@flintshire.gov.uk

Website:
www.greenfieldvalley.com

The project will comprise the following elements:

• Delivering on Carbon Zero Progression
  • What – Energy efficiency improvements to the buildings in main visitor area. 
  • By whom and how – Appointed contractors carrying out physical projects.
  • Achieving – A more energy efficient site contributing to the Welsh government’s net zero target.
• Blue-Green Heritage Infrastructure
  • What – Implementing aspects of the TEP Valley Masterplan (SPF 2022-25) namely:
    • Pedestrian access and parking improvements 
    • Demolishing the unsightly derelict cottage 
    • Works at the scheduled monuments (implementing SPF1 TEP and Museum Options Studies)
  • By who and how – commissioning contractors (larger capital works), minor/facilitating works in work programmes of Valley rangers and their supporting volunteers.  
  • Achieving – Overall site and access improvements progressing the proposals from previous SPF support.
• Heritage and Museum Development Programme
  • What – Progressing SPF1 Museum Options Study with Collections Review and audio-visual introduction to historical sites across the Valley for visitors.
  • By who and how – Greenfield Valley Museum Mentor (Collections Review), Contractors (AV)
  • Achieving –  A refocus of the accredited museum’s Collections and greater awareness of the Valley’s historic, cultural and economic importance.
• Arts, Culture and Heritage Community Programme 
  • What – Education, participation and outreach activities tailored to the local community and as an attractor to visitors. Includes third phase of successful archaeology programme. 
  • By who and how  - developed in consultation with providers, local organisations and local community.
  • Delivery - small commissions and direct provision by Valley staff and volunteers. 
  • Achieving – greater awareness of the Valley as a location of interest and community value: improved learning and leisure opportunities for local people and visitors. 
• Promotion to Visitors
  • What – The Valley’s visitor rating is high, but it is not well known.  This project explores how the Valley can be better presented to potential visitors and raise awareness of its many attractions.
  • By who and how – contract with specialists for advice to inform future publicity, signing and promotion.  Staff to continue with Hootsuite for efficient use of social media platforms.
  • Achieving –  a higher profile for the Valley, increased visitor numbers, greater local pride.
• Volunteering
  • What – Progressing successful work of 2024 (part SPF funded) by increased face-to-face management of volunteers.
  • By who and how– Providing promotional, administrative and organisational support through relief assistant ranger staff time for face-to-face work with volunteers.
  • Achieving – An increase in volunteers and greater satisfaction for existing volunteers.
• Visitor Gateway
  • What – Improved visitor experience pending delivery of the large new visitor centre designed under SPF1 (several years to completion). This interim stage will also check/refine the Valley’s organisational ability to ensure the successful delivery of the larger project.  
  • By who and how –
    
    • Café – Trustee expertise with contractor support to plan and implement internal redesign, refurbishment and kitchen updating for café area as well as exploring options for catering for more customers.
    • Shop – contractor support to address issues identified in studies - improving signing, clarifying museum offer and better layout of a larger retail area.
  • Achieving – improved offer for all visitors, improved facilities for locals, proof of concept for the delivery of the larger project planned via SPF 2002/25 

Name of Lead Organisation:
Cadwyn Clwyd

Contact:
Helen Williams

E-mail:
helen.williams@cadwynclwyd.co.uk

Website:
www.cadwynclwyd.co.uk

This project will continue to support community led and / or community owned venues / facilities / spaces / groups to develop, strengthen and enhance community infrastructure and community-based projects. The project will continue to strengthen long term sustainability enhancing operational resilience, and ensuring continued community benefit through a continued wrap­around support function for community groups which include:

• Community Development Officer Support
  Officers will continue to work directly with community groups across Flintshire to identify projects, working with them to develop proposals to the SPF Community Key Fund, develop business plans, access external match funding together with hands-on support to take their projects to fruition.
• Pre-Project Development Funding Support
  This will support communities to take the first step to realise and implement projects and will fund feasibility studies (e.g. for new community ventures such as asset transfer, community buildings – extensions or new build), specialist consultancy (e.g. architect and surveyor costs to support RIBA stages 1-4).
• Community Key Fund
  This element will be a capital key fund grant to support community projects which enable and support:
  • Community and neighbourhood infrastructure projects
  • Local arts, cultural, heritage and creative activities
  • Impactful volunteering and/or social action projects
  • Capacity building and infrastructure support for local groups
  • Community engagement schemes, local regeneration
  • Investment and support for digital connectivity for local community facilities

The Key Fund will support capital projects up to £35,000. Applications submitted and in development will be reviewed on a monthly basis, and the balance of funding allocated and development funds may be adjusted in response to needs, emerging trends and knowledge by the project staff of applications that are in the pipeline.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Cadwyn Clwyd

Contact:
Donna Hughes

E-mail:
donna.hughes@cadwynclwyd.co.uk

Website:
www.cadwynclwyd.co.uk

The project will support three areas of interventions namely:

• Tourism Business Infrastructure grants for individual micro, small and medium tourism related businesses
  This strand will provide targeted support for businesses to undertake new­to­firm innovation, invest in improving visitor experiences, targeting new markets, which contribute constructively towards the tourism and visitor economy within Flintshire. The grant will support projects at a 70% grant up to £17,500 grant value (£25,000 project value). The fund will support an average figure of 15.5 businesses.
• Tourism Sector Collaboration and Feasibility Fund
  This element will continue support for projects to build on studies and develop projects. This strand will support with development work which is required to deliver projects targeting the development of tourism infrastructure and the visitor economy (e.g. community groups, Third sector, public sector) and will entail costs such as feasibility, consultancy, marketing, coordinator costs etc.
• Business Grant and Business Network Key Fund operation
  This will include a project officer and administration, tourism consultancy for business grants, marketing and communication, project evaluation costs.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Antur Teifi t/as Antur Cymru

Contact:
Bronwen Raine

E-mail:
braine@anturcymru.org.uk

Website:
www.anturcymru.org.uk

The project objectives are:

• To continue to progress clients previously engaged with along their carbon reduction journey
• To stimulate a further cohort of businesses to begin their carbon reduction journey through upskilling and the development of Carbon Reduction Action Plans

The project will:

• Provide a grant fund to clients to support the implementation of carbon reduction infrastructure such as solar panels, heat pumps, energy efficient lighting systems etc. The grants will initially target clients that have previously accessed feasibility studies from the fund and will offer grants of up to £10,000 at an intervention rate of 50% excluding VAT to support these businesses to take the next step on their carbon reduction journey. Once this demand is exhausted, if sufficient budget remains, the fund will open to wider applications including businesses previously expressing an interest in undertaking feasibility studies but who did not progress further. It will be key to understand barriers that the cohort may have faced in accessing the feasibility opportunity and furthers barrier businesses may face accessing the capital grant. The project will ensure that all clients are aware of the match funding opportunity presented by the Green Business Loan Scheme offered by the Development Bank.
• Continue to work with Pathways to Net Zero with a second cohort of 16 businesses to create Carbon Reduction Action Plans with an emphasis on the requirement for tendering and grant funding applications.

This scheme will allow businesses to meet the reporting standard complying with PPN 06/21 and WPPN 06/21, set a baseline year for future measurements and establish baseline carbon calculations and set realistic and achievable emission reduction targets. This activity will create a potential pool of businesses ready to access next stage funding, should such become available in future.

The scheme would also focus on transfer of knowledge and thought leadership within the field of SME decarbonisation, focused on areas of the business which allow for measured and achievable carbon reduction. To support this, the project will create promotional material and case studies which will demonstrate carbon and cost reduction impacts which will also enable client recruitment

To further promote the Carbon Reduction agenda, digital assets will be created for dissemination amongst existing and new clients. This will enable businesses to have a suite of resources that they can use within their business to inform staff and create a culture of change around sustainability.

To drive project demand and to highlight opportunities for businesses to decarbonise, the project will produce and promote case studies featuring supported clients.

Name of Lead Organisation:
Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru

Contact:
Tom Chadwick

E-mail:
t.g.chadwick@amrc.co.uk

Website:
www.amrc.co.uk/pages/adapts

ADAPTS 2 intends to continue the proposed activities in the previous programme where the core objective is to facilitate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and decarbonisation strategies through bespoke Research and Development interventions and comprehensive training. This programme will focus on supporting 8 selected manufacturing businesses ranging across 2-3 months each.

The journey begins with a rigorous selection process against predefined criteria, identifying businesses with high growth potential. Following this, AMRC Cymru will conduct in-depth business site visit interventions. These visits will be crucial for understanding the unique operational challenges faced by each business, allowing for the development of tailored project proposals. These proposals, focusing on specific technological advancements and process improvements, are then presented to a steering committee (involving Flintshire City Council) for final approval, where project intervention delivery will commence.

These interventions, conducted at AMRC Cymru's state-of-the-art facility, are designed to maximise the impact of advanced manufacturing technologies on productivity and decarbonisation. Key performance indicators (KPIs) are meticulously tracked throughout the projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives, including social and environmental targets. Each intervention will occupy a consumable budget of £2,499 to procure items which support the project output for the beneficiaries.

Concurrent to the project interventions and to foster increased enthusiasm for technology adoption and sustained innovation, beneficiaries receive specialized training from Coleg Cambria and Small World Consulting. Coleg Cambria's two-day program focuses on Industry 4.0, digital skills, and green technologies, empowering businesses to effectively integrate advanced solutions. Small World Consulting will provide three-hour interactive sessions and follow-up support, guiding businesses through carbon footprinting, emissions reduction strategies, and the development of actionable sustainability plans.

A crucial aspect of ADAPTS 2 is its commitment to long-term sustainability. At the conclusion of each project intervention, a tailored action plan is developed, outlining clear steps for technology adoption and process improvement. These plans include specific timelines, assigned responsibilities, and measurable KPIs, ensuring that businesses can continue to progress beyond the program's duration.

The program's delivery is structured in two waves, with site visits and project proposals preceding both. AMRC Cymru plays a central role, providing technical expertise and access to advanced facilities. Collaborative partnerships with Coleg Cambria and Small World Consulting ensure comprehensive training and support.

To foster knowledge sharing and promote technology adoption across the wider manufacturing community, a showcase event will be hosted at AMRC Cymru. This event provides a platform for beneficiaries and engineers to present their project findings and share best practices, contributing to the overall development of the Flintshire manufacturing sector. The wider Flintshire manufacturing community will also be invited to this free-of-charge event, furthering the bolstering of technology adoption.

Lead Organisation:
Actif North Wales

Contact:
Manon Rees-O’Brien

E-Mail:
manon@gogleddcymruactif.cymru

Website:
gogleddcymruactif.cymru

The project follows an asset-based community development approach to leverage local strengths and create long-ter, sustainable change. The goal is to embed physical activity as the norm and address health inequalities by working directly within communities.

The project will focus on "what's strong" rather than "what's wrong," ensuring people are at the centre of decision-making. The work is community-led, empowering residents to develop sustainable, long-term solutions that enable daily physical activity and improved well-being. Coordinators are key to this model. They follow a structured three-phase approach: Discover, Connect, and Mobilise. The pilot phase has demonstrated the value of place-based working in reducing inactivity and inequalities.

Working alongside local groups, networks, and organisations, Co-ordinators identify and enhance community assets to make movement more accessible. The approach is not just about partnership working but fostering long-term, cross-sector collaboration to address the root causes of inactivity. The model is about building trust and supporting change over time. While funding can enable opportunities, the pilot project has shown that meaningful engagement, rather than financial incentives, is the key to success.

Lead Organisation:
Ambition North Wales

Contact:
Gwenllian Brassington

E-Mail:
gwenllianbrassington@uchelgaisgogledd.cymru

Website:
ambitionnorth.wales

Together, the proposed four workstreams aim to address challenges faced by SME’s, specifically in relation to skills shortages, capacity and knowledge gaps and help businesses to accelerate the readiness of projects so they can be deployed earlier. In turn, this will allow benefits from the North Wales Growth Deal to be realised sooner. All four workstreams, as detailed below, build on elements of the 2022-25 UKSPF funded workstreams and will greatly support the ability to support regional economic growth within North Wales.

• North Wales Skills Portal (UKSPF Theme: Employability)
  The portal was funded and launched during the previous programme and it will be used to promote, enhance, and disseminate data and insights captured through this new resource. Through a targeted marketing campaign, the project will engage specific audiences and ensure maximum awareness and accessibility to the tools provided. Young people and individuals will gain greater awareness of the market, their strengths and weaknesses. Various delivery methods will focus on increasing motivation and confidence around looking for work, better understanding the skills needs of local employers, and demonstrating their transferable skills. Increased portal use and engagement will provide valuable insights to share with employers, helping them attract home-grown talent in North Wales and better connecting employers, training providers, and individuals.
• Digital Feasibility and Consultancy Funding (UKSPF Theme: Support for Business)
  The provision of direct and tailored support to help organisations to conduct feasibility assessments or use consultancy support to develop their advanced wireless connectivity proposals. Examples of the type of support include:
  • Design and costing of upgraded wifi networks to improve staff and customer connectivity
  • Design and costing of new IoT sensor networks to improve stock management or manufacturing processes
  • Pilot activity to establish new services which can be offered to other businesses to enable the adoption of wireless technologies (e.g. proof of concept), such as providing initial set up and ongoing support service for farm based LoRaWAN services applications.
  This support is intended to further help businesses in applying for funding, including from the Growth Deal’s Advanced Wireless capital grant scheme, launching later this year.
• Energy Feasibility and Consultancy Funding (UKSPF Theme: Support for Business)
  The provision of direct support to organisations to carry out feasibility assessments or use consultancy support to develop their energy and decarbonisation project proposals. This in turn will provide the assistance to determine the most relevant funding opportunities, including from the Growth Deal’s Clean Energy Fund, launching later this year. The recently developed bid writing guidance will also be promoted.
• Supply Chain Engagement (UKSPF Theme: Support for Business)
  Continued engagement, data analysis and training to better equip organisations to bid for relevant capital funding opportunities.

Lead Organisation:
Bangor University

Contact:
Bryn Jones

E-Mail:
bryn.jones@bangor.ac.uk

Website:
www.bangor.ac.uk/business-services/the-skills-and-innovation-voucher-scheme

The project will utilise the existing delivery model and involves rationalising voucher delivery to just Midi and Talent vouchers (both £5k) to ensure resource goes the furthest. This will enable the University to work with as many new businesses as possible. The vouchers will be awarded to business for projects and will be redeemable against the costs of:

• consultancy, collaborative and contract research projects
• the use of specialist facilities for Research and Development and innovation projects
• secondments and staff exchange between the University and SMEs
• provision of short courses, training and masterclasses
• employing graduate interns from the University
• entrepreneurship support to establish new student and graduate businesses

For project selection and approvals, the University will continue with a rolling call and an Expressions of Interest process. A two-part application form will be used. Support will be prioritised for voucher projects that are with companies new to working with the University and demonstrate the greatest potential for further collaboration and return on investment.

Lead Organisation:
Keep Wales Tidy

Contact:
Gareth Jones

E-Mail:
gareth.jones@keepwalestidy.cymru

Website:
https://keepwalestidy.cymru/caru-cymru/

The project will provide opportunities for inclusive, impactful volunteering and will bring communities together to improve local environment quality and associated anti-social behaviour. It is widely recognised that clean, litter free areas of the community brings with it the feeling of it being a safe area to be in and enjoy. The work brings people from different backgrounds together, strengthening the feeling of being part of the community as well as promoting inclusivity, pride and belonging. Litter picking also benefits health as it gets individuals out into the fresh air, exercising, meeting people, becoming part of a group with likeminded volunteers doing a meaningful and beneficial activity which has positive effects for improved wellbeing.

Proposed activities:

• The project will deliver meaningful, inclusive volunteering opportunities for the communities of Flintshire, raising the awareness of local environmental quality issues and facilitate voluntary action to improve local communities.
• The project will provide non-financial support to maintain and increase the number of volunteering opportunities, undertake neighbourhood improvements, and build volunteer capacity through appropriate training.
• As a result, the project seeks to achieve an increase in the number of people volunteering to improve local environmental quality (LEQ) in Flintshire and a subsequent increase in the quality of local communities.
• Activities will be delivered by our dedicated Project Officers working in partnership with Local Authority contacts after developing an LEQ Action Plan
• This will include supporting and recruiting a range of volunteers across the Litter Champion community group, Litter Hub and Litter Free Zone opportunities. Volunteers and residents will have a direct voice via the Litter Focus Groups which will target and prioritise appropriate interventions to support improved local environment quality
• The project will work to build on the strong relationship forged with the Local Authority during the previous UKSPF programme.
• The direct beneficiaries will be the volunteers who will gain positive, meaningful and rewarding volunteering opportunities. Indirectly the project will benefit all residents, businesses and visitors to Flintshire who will be rewarded with visible positive LEQ improvements, as well as benefits to the general environment and wildlife.
• Volunteering opportunities will be available across the whole county and some priority areas have already been identified as a result of work during the previous UKSPF programme and will see some more targeted opportunities to bring about positive change.

Lead Organisation:
Centre of Sight Sign Sound

Contact:
Clare Lewis

E-Mail:
clare.lewis@cos.org.uk

Website:
www.centreofsignsightsound.org.uk/working-sense

Project Description:
Building on the work carried out in the previous SPF programme, the project will continue to work with employers to make them more disability confident. Ensuring employment can be sustained and the beneficiary has the opportunity to progress to the best of their ability. Encouraging them to engage with the skills system, giving them the basic skills required to not only tackle poverty and reduce isolation, but to sustain employment and have a long lasting positive mental impact on the individual.

Once a referral is received it is allocated to the compliance officer who will carry out a check to ensure that they meet the project criteria. Once this has been established, they will be assigned to a named Employment Advisor. Employment Advisers will support the beneficiaries to overcome the challenges posed by their disability, improve their confidence and vocational skills, and support individual beneficiaries in employment/volunteering or education. They will develop a tailored action plan for each individual to identify their specific needs and requirements and to achieve the following outcomes:

Confidence building and vocational skills, such as:

• Knowledge, skills and work behaviours
• Skills relating to developing applications for work
• Problem solving, communicating and relationship management
• Emotional resilience and confidence
• Manage money more carefully

Practical help, such as:

• Transport challenges
• Identifying realistic and appropriate options for work
• Information on vacancies in association with Job Centre Plus et al
• Referrals to training programmes to learn additional skills, including accredited training and qualifications relevant to the beneficiaries journey towards work
• Referral to further and higher education programs
• Awareness of technology that can support disabled people in the workplace
• Providing access to work experience, work placements, volunteering opportunities and job tasters through a wide range of employers

Specific outcomes for each beneficiary exiting the programme could be:

• Supporting them into employment
• Completing work experience placement or volunteering opportunity
• Gaining a qualification or work relevant certification
• Or engaging in job search.

It is important to note that this is a specialist service, the staff are highly trained in how to communicate and meet the needs of communities, whereas other projects may need to source other professionals such as BSL interpreters which may delay the beneficiary from receiving the support they need.

Weekly contact will be made either in person, or via video call to move beneficiaries along their journey and to work through the action plan, ensuring milestones are met.

The project will also work with potential employers to support them to become Disability Confident, to share information around potential adjustments and how Access to Work may be able to support them with meeting the costs associated with changes.

Whilst the project will be administered from the main offices in Colwyn Bay it will utilise public buildings to meet beneficiaries for example, local libraries, talking points, community hubs, leisure centres and offices of other 3rd sector organisations. Alternatively the project will carry out home visits for those beneficiaries who are unable or reluctant to meet in public places.