West Northamptonshire Council is allocating £415,000 through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund to support 15 community-led projects aimed at boosting skills, wellbeing, and employment prospects.
The funding will enable local charities, voluntary organisations, and social enterprises to deliver training, coaching, and wellbeing initiatives. Programs are designed to help residents access work, education, and volunteering while fostering stronger community networks.
Supported projects cover a wide spectrum of needs. Initiatives include vocational training and enterprise support for adults with learning difficulties, wellbeing and employability programmes for vulnerable residents, mentoring for isolated individuals, and targeted employment pathways for women and young people. Specialist services such as IT training, trade skills development, and mental health support are also included.
Examples of initiatives receiving funding include artisan bakery and café programmes offering coaching toward employment, structured volunteer and work placement schemes, career planning support for young people with additional health needs, and expanded wellbeing services to help adults move from crisis to independence. Several organisations will employ coordinators and mentors to increase the scale and consistency of their support.
The programme is part of West Northamptonshire Council’s broader strategy to strengthen workforce skills, enhance community resilience, and provide local residents with access to opportunities that support long-term economic growth.
