The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation Grants £2.25 Million In Partnership With Salford CVS to Promote Skills and Employment

The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation (AGCF) has agreed to donate £2.25 million to Salford Community & Voluntary Services (Salford CVS). AGCF has formed a three year partnership with Salford CVS as it looks to provide a range of services to support, train and prepare people furthest from the job market to gain skills and employment via the strong charity sector that exists in Salford and which is part of Salford City Council’s wider approach to education, training and employment.

The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation has awarded grants to many impactful projects run by charities across the country with Salford being one of its particular areas of focus.

A spokesperson for the Trustees of the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation commented: “The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation is delighted to be able to support this exemplary initiative. We were very impressed by what Salford CVS has developed with its partners and how this will feed in so well to the Council’s wider strategy to help those furthest from the job market on their journey toward work. We are committed to funding high quality initiatives such as this and look forward to seeing the difference it will make to so many people in Salford.”

“After a meeting with Tom Stannard, the Chief Executive at Salford City Council at The Mustard Tree, which is one of the charities that AGCF has supported, it was clear that there was an opportunity for a major step change by linking in with the Council’s focus on tackling unemployment though partnership working. The ambitions of both organisations were aligned given that Albert Gubay’s over-riding principle was to help those most in need. Alison Page, Chief Executive of Salford CVS, jumped at the chance to work with us and immediately identified the charities who were reaching the people that others weren’t and developed a strong programme and partnership proposal.”

In addition to the AGCF grant, Salford City Council is funding the coordination of the programme by Salford CVS.
Salford CVS’ Chief Executive, Alison Page, said: “Salford CVS is proud to be leading this new VCSE Learning, Skills and Work programme for Salford. We have significant experience of delivering complex, VCSE-led programmes of work in Salford and across Greater Manchester, from social prescribing to cancer screening engagement. We’ve brought together a really robust core charitable partnership, who already deliver a range of learning, skills and work provision. By working together we can offer a joined-up, place-based approach that will help those most in need of support in Salford, particularly those people that align with The Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation’s priority causes. We are excited to be working with the AGCF on this initiative. This programme will be a cornerstone of Salford’s new Skills and Work Strategy and we appreciate the support we have received from Salford Council’s Chief Executive, Tom Stannard, and his team.”

Councillor Philip Cusack, Executive Support Member for Skills, Work and Business at Salford City Council, said: “Salford City Council is delighted that the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation has chosen Salford as an area of focus. The Skills and Work programme is a key priority not just for the council, but for the whole city, and we have a strong focus on tackling unemployment and economic inactivity though partnership working. This programme, led by Salford CVS, will be a key component of our new Skills and Work Strategy, particularly in reducing the skills and labour market inequalities and disparities that we see across the city. The funding will make a real difference to people who are most in need of our support.”

The programme comprises a range of complementary projects run by specialists in the charity sector that support those furthest from the job market towards gaining training, skills, volunteering, work experience and employment; with Salford CVS managing the whole programme. Salford City Council is funding the coordination of the programme by Salford CVS, which will provide the glue to make all elements of the initiative work to their fullest and to ensure that the programme remains responsive and flexible to those who most need support.

Delivery will be undertaken by five ‘core’ charity partners: Groundwork Greater Manchester, Mustard Tree, Salford Foundation, Salford Loaves & Fishes and The Broughton Trust. Their work will be augmented by spot-purchased specialist provision. In addition, there will be a small grants fund for charities that can deliver in support of this programme.

The process for each individual supported will be as follows:

Assessment => Initial interventions => Preparation for training => Training / Experience =>
Job brokerage => Support to secure work => Support when in work

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Salford CVS