Adult and Community Learning Fund.Deadline extended to 14 June

Organisations from across England can bid for their share of £2.25 million from the Adult and Community Learning Fund for new and imaginative adult and community learning opportunities that engage and motivate, in particular, disadvantaged adults. The maximum amount for any bid is £75,000 and the minimum is £10,000. The Adult and Community Learning Fund, administered by NIACE on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency, will contribute to the Government's aspirations for Informal Adult and Community Learning (IACL). The Adult and Community Learning Fund can support a wide range of projects and activities in England - though all of them should deliver learning to adults. Projects will need to demonstrate the role adult learning plays in the achievement of a range of the Government's wider social policy goals. In addition all projects will be expected to develop robust measures to demonstrate their impact and outcomes for learners and communities. The following are important themes in Adult and Community Learning Fund activity and we will look favourably on projects that exemplify one or more of these key themes in applications: -support for civic engagement and community decision making; -support of better mental or physical health; -support for enhancing financial capability; - involvement and enhancement of both volunteers and the engagement of voluntary organisations; -widening access to digital and other important skills; -building stronger families; -connecting non-formal learning opportunities with formal learning -opportunities for individuals and communities to develop social and economic independence. What sort of projects can be funded? Although it's not an absolute requirement to meet all of the criteria below we will look favourably on projects that: widen participation in learning for adults contribute to the reinvigoration of IACL by developing innovative and effective approaches to engaging learners and supporting their learning journey involve partnership working are sustainable have wider benefit or impact exemplify one or more of the key themes listed above encourage progression for learners encourage those learners who are able to do so to contribute to the costs of their learning either financially or in-kind. Projects will be expected to deliver direct benefits to adult learners and potential learners. In this context the term 'adults' refers to anyone aged 19 or over. Who can apply? The Adult and Community Learning Fund is open to learning providers in England regardless of whether or not they currently receive funding for IACL directly from the Skills Funding Agency Adult Safeguarded Learning (ASL) budget. However, providers not currently in receipt of direct funding from the Skills Funding Agency will be expected to involve in their project a partner who is already directly funded by the Skills Funding Agency from the ASL budget. These potential partners include almost all Local Authorities and many Further Education colleges in England. How to apply Applications should be made online at www.niace.org.uk/adultandcommunitylearningfund by 12 noon on Friday 10 June 2011. EXTENDED to noon on 14th June A full prospectus is available online along with Frequently Asked Questions which should answer most of your questions. If you have any questions about the Fund, please check online first. If you cannot find the answer to your query, please email aclf@niace.org.uk, where your question will be dealt with within three working days.

External Link: http://www.niace.org