Content

Purpose of the
Report:
The purpose of the report is to request for various additional funding provided by GMCA as part
of the UKSPF skills funding allocation for NEET support, be
accepted and that any variations to the original contract’s
agreement be agreed.
 
Reasons for the
Recommendations:
In
August 2023, the Cabinet approved a report to accept funding from
the UKSPF Skills funding via GMCA to support NEET young people to
re-engage and return to the EET pathway.  This funding was a total of
£720,000.
 
The
report outlined the intention for the funding to be attached to the
existing TIIAG contract as this would provide the most effective
use of the additional resource.  This
became the “Empower Oldham” project currently being
delivered by Positive Steps.  This grant
agreement, contract and funding was made available until 31 March
2025.

 
In
December 2023, Oldham applied to receive some additional funding
from the UKSPF fund.  This request
originated from GMCA and was known as “Growth
Fund”.  Oldham was awarded an
additional £19K (which increased our monitoring outputs by 10
young people reached).  The agreed use
of this additional funding was to support the rental costs for the
new study programme provision Oldham College are developing at
Positive Steps.  The provision opened in
September 2024.

 
In
March 2024, a DDR was submitted and signed off for £49,158
for the delivery of Care Leaver Multiply (attached, Appendix
2).  We have now received notification
from GMCA that Oldham has been awarded an additional 10%
(£4,915.80) to support staffing costs for input into
GMIT.
 
In
June 2024, GMCA requested confirmation LA’s were able to receive and use an
additional £100K for the purposes of NEET
prevention.  This fund must be spent by
31 March 2025.  This funding is not
linked to any outcomes identified in the wider UKSPF NEET grant
allocations.  Oldham has worked with
Oldham College to develop a programme that supports young people to
sustain their placement at the College, with a view to reducing the
drop out rate, which will support young
people with the resilience to stay in College and therefore not drop out and become
NEET.  This should support the reduction
of Oldham’s NEET rate and should work towards reducing the
number of Y13’s who are NEET which
is a significant issue for Oldham, GM and nationally.  This is a departure from how the other 9
LA’s are using this fund and could
become a good practice evidence base for the future. 

 
In
July 2024, Oldham was notified of GMCA’s intention to extend
UKSPF funding and outcomes to September 2025.  The extension will provide an additional
£240K to cover the costs of the programme.

 
The total amount of the
additional funding requested to be accepted is
£363,915.80.
 
Options/Alternatives
considered:
Option 1: To
accept the additional funding to deliver the extension to schemes
provided for our NEET young people. 
This option provides additional support to our young people in
Oldham, including Care Leavers that would not normally be
available.

 
Option 2: To decline the additional funding.   This option effectively removes provision,
resource and support for young people who are an identified
vulnerable group.

 
Option 1 is the preferred option.
 
Decision:
The Cabinet resolved to approve
the additional funding, in the sum of £363,915.80, to deliver
the extension to schemes provided for the Borough’s NEET
young people.  This option provides
additional support to our young people in Oldham, including Care
Leavers that would not normally be available.