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| About BtG | |
| Introduction Bridging the Gap is an innovative project which aims to address the issues of long term unemployment and serious labour market disadvantages within the Bristol area. The project was launched in 1999, and has since established itself in Bristol as a successful model for moving unemployed people on into training and employment through a variety of approaches. |
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To date Bridging the Gap has been heavily reliant on funding secured
through a number of European funding streams, such as INTEGRA,
ESF Objective 3 and ESF Objective 2. The current UK European
Programmes run until 31 December 2006, and Bridging the Gap has
already submitted further applications for ESF funding in order
to ensure the continuation of the project into 2005 / 2006. With the accession of new member states it is currently unclear what opportunities there will be to access European funds beyond the end of December 2006, and if there are opportunities to bid for funds they may be radically different from the current funding regime. A bid for Big Lottery funding is also being developed, for submission in the summer of 2005, to compliment the ESF funding for which applications as mentioned previously have already been submitted. We already have approval for two ESF Objective 3 funding applications amounting to £243,692 in total, to be utilised up to the end of December 2005, and we await the outcome of a further ESF Objective 2 funding application submitted recently. Bridging the Gap provides intensive one-to-one support through its team of outreach Community Support Workers to long term unemployed and unregistered job seekers in the local community, to enable them to progress into learning and employment. It achieves this by working directly with support agencies and, through partnership approaches, with employers to break down discriminatory barriers. In addition to the advice, support and guidance, (provided by the Community Support Workers), the project provides work placements, basic skills and vocational training. All provision is flexible and tailored to the individual needs of the client. The summary, which follows, offers a brief outline of the services we offer, the limitations imposed on Bridging the Gap and the commitment we expect from the people we support. Please see our full Statement of Service for further details. 
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What
we offer * A completely free one to one personal support service at a venue in your local community to help identify barriers to employment * Support is available to people who meet our basic eligibility criteria (see Statement of Service) * BtG will act as an advocate on your behalf to help you to access training, employment and other relevant support available in the area * Access to information related to gaining employment or training as well as other related issues * Ongoing support through regular contact with a Community Support Worker * Help to plan future actions & build your confidence leading to getting a job * Funding for existing clients towards childcare, travel, interview costs, protective clothing and specialist training. * A motivation and commitment to want to work * A willingness to provide us with supporting information if required * That you will make every effort to keep appointments and perform agreed background work * That you are up-front and honest about your current situation |
| Limitations
of Service. There are a number of limitations to the service we are able to provide. These restrictions are generally imposed on us by our funding partners and can effect the level of financial support available to you; restrict the areas within Bristol in which we are able to work and limit the amount of time available for support from the BtG staff. For full details of these limitations please refer to the Statement of Service document. To view the list of criteria please visit the Eligibility Criteria page. |
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