Neighbourhood Learning in Deprived Communities (NLDC) 2010/11

NLDC is a £20 million national fund made available though the Skills Funding Agency as part of their Adult Safeguarded Learning provision.

The overall aim of NLDC funding is to support the local voluntary and community sector by developing the capacity of organisations to deliver learning opportunities to residents of the disadvantaged neighbourhoods and communities of Bedfordshire and Luton.

The Learning Partnership has managed the funding allocation for Bedfordshire and Luton since 2005 and we have seen it support a wide range of neighbourhood and community based projects that would not have been possible otherwise.

The following individual projects were supported with 2010/11 NLDC funding.

JET – Jobs, Enterprise & Training
Way 2 Work
Springboard for Women Returners
Getting to Yes
Fresh Start
Women into Learning
Future Aspirations
Security Industry Authority Registration

Whilst NLDC funding allows for a variety of project activities to take place, there are certain priorities that the Skills Funding Agency seeks to meet. These priorities include:

Seeking out and building the delivery of learning capacity of new and existing providers

The engagement of workless, low skilled adults in activities aimed at progressing them closer to gaining sustained employment

The engagement of adults classed as ‘hard to reach’

The promotion of partnership collaborations and close partnership working

The encouragement of learners in their progression into further learning or employment – for many, NLDC funding may provide their first real opportunity for learning since leaving school

Within any year the funding allocation for NLDC is used to support a number of small projects, up to the value of £10,000 each.