Pictured: OxLEP Skills Hub Manager Sally Andreou is pictured with Neil Holman of SOFEA Didcot and Paul Roberts, CEO of Aspire Oxfordshire (right).
Two of Oxfordshire’s most enterprising charities, SOFEA Didcot and Aspire Oxfordshire, have joined forces to launch the new ‘No Limits’ Programme to support the ambitious new OxLEP Skills Social Contract Programme.
Commencing this month, the £400,000 ‘No Limits’ Programme will enable SOFEA and Aspire to introduce a comprehensive programme of support over the next 15 months to help address the legacy impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Working from community settings across Oxfordshire, the support will be person-centred and focused on supporting people who have been at risk of being held back by the detrimental effects of the pandemic and who are now at risk of being affected by the cost of living crisis.
The type of support will range from providing access to digital devices and digital skills development, to intensive employment development support, through to travel bursaries. The interventions will be closely tied-in with food larder provision across the county and will follow a delivery mapping exercise, including how to widen access to employment opportunities in key sectors with local employers.
The ‘No Limits’ Programme is an integral part of OxLEP Skills wider Social Contract Programme, a £1.7m suite of targeted interventions benefiting Oxfordshire businesses and communities, ranging from an Apprenticeship Grant Scheme through to a virtual mentoring platform.
Sally Andreou – Skills Hub Manager at OxLEP – said: “OxLEP Skills is delighted to be able to bring the ‘No Limits’ Programme to life through our new Social Contract Programme. We are excited to be partnering with SOFEA and Aspire on this project, which aims to help local people gain skills and access resources that can support them into employment.”
Richard Kennell – CEO at SOFEA – said: “SOFEA are delighted to be leading the ‘No Limits’ Programme, in partnership with Aspire. We are looking forward to bringing together our expertise to support people across Oxfordshire, particularly in these difficult times. The project will enable us to work alongside people and provide them with the support in getting (back) into work.”
Paul Roberts – CEO of Aspire – said: “The ‘No Limits’ Programme is a very timely, important opportunity to bring additional support and opportunity into communities so that the people who need us the most can get support when it matters. We’re very pleased to be a part of this new partnership effort.”