The Building Better Opportunities programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the European Social Fund, provides support for those furthest from the labour market to become employment ready and to develop their pre-employment skills. ACH has secured funding through two Building Better Opportunities programme streams. The Community Matters Programme helps people move into work, training or to become economically active and Black Country Click Start provides support to help people develop their personal financial and digital skills.

Community Matters is designed to help people who are furthest away from the labour market, and who face some of the toughest challenges, to move closer to securing paid work and get into work where possible.

ACH will be providing support around:

• Functional English/ESOL, delivered via trained local volunteers
• Employability Skills training
• Vocational Skills training
• Job Clubs
• One to one careers advice and guidance
• Basic ICT
• Social Inclusion
• Health & Wellbeing
• Women’s Craft Club

Black Country Click Start is designed to provide wraparound support to improve digital and financial inclusion. The project, which is jointly led by whg and Accord, will specifically work with social housing tenants who will be affected by the roll out of Universal Credit and other welfare reforms, and offer clear progression routes onto skills and employment provisions.

Under this strand support will be provided around: