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LDA launch £30m opportunities for community groups and minority companies
The London Development Agency has recently launched the Opportunities Fund Round Two - a £30m pot primarily aimed at skills and regeneration projects run by charities, voluntary organisations and BME companies.
This is the second consecutive year that the LDA has run the fund. And over the next three years, more than 20,000 people and 6,000 businesses should benefit.
These beneficiaries will include 14,000 women, 5,000 people with disabilities and 15,000 people from black and minority ethnic groups. Manny Lewis, chief executive of the LDA, said: "There are hundreds of grassroots organisations in London that pour their heart and soul into improving their area. Their local knowledge and relationship with the community is an invaluable resource, but in many cases a lack of funding holds them back.
"We want to build on the success of last year's fund and invest in high quality innovative projects to plug this funding need." The three year Round Two fund will help those in disadvantaged groups overcome barriers to find work or learn new skills, while also supporting the regeneration of deprived areas including neglected industrial estates. The LDA are seeking projects based on four themes for this year’s fund:
- Skills and employment support for equalities groups including people with disabilities,
BAME groups and women
- Opportunities for engagement in London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for London's diverse communities
- Improving the working environment of industrial estates including business, training and environmental improvements.
- Capacity building, including increased training and networking, for minority-led organisations.
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Last year, the first ever Opportunities Fund (Round One) attracted 766 applications and the LDA is expecting even more interest after each former applicant was contacted about the new three year fund - along with 1,200 other organisations.
The LDA is urging local media, councils and elected representatives to help ensure that as many organizations as possible in their area are aware of the fund.
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