Universal Credit Transition Fund (£10million) - partnership opportunity

Application form

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is pleased to announce that the Universal Credit Transition Fund Grant application process is now open.

The fund will enable external partners to help people who most need extra support to move closer to or into work, including supporting them to make a claim to Universal Credit (UC) where they are not already in receipt. We are looking for local charities, community groups and other organisations of any size which are well placed to identify and help vulnerable people struggling to access and engage with support, particularly when moving between other arms of state provision and the welfare system.

While extensive support for those claiming UC and moving towards employment exists for some groups, there is less provision targeted specifically at employment focussed support for other groups such as care leavers, prison leavers, refugees, homeless people and those with substance dependencies.

We therefore intend to target the fund on these groups and any other vulnerable people where partner organisations identify a need for this type of support.
We are looking to work with creative and innovative partners across England, Wales and Scotland who are well placed to identify and help vulnerable people who are struggling to engage with support. We will consider and welcome bids from all suitable organisations including those with existing innovative ideas that could be scaled up.   

 The grant funding will be available during the 2020/2021 financial year up to 31 March 2021.

 

Details of the partnership opportunity

 

The Universal Credit Transition Fund (UCTF) will award grants to ‘not for profit’ partners, including voluntary organisations, charities, social enterprises and anyone who has the relationships with and the skills to help individuals navigate UC and move closer towards employment.   

 

Applications must be innovative, unique and address the needs of the local claimant groups and should not duplicate provision currently available.

The minimum requirements for this fund will primarily be, but not exclusively, to target support at care leavers, prison leavers, refugees, homeless people, those with substance dependencies and any other vulnerable groups where there is less employment-focussed support and evidence of poor outcomes.As we expect to be working with a range of different and innovative support schemes targeted at different groups, the required outcomes or indicators of successful delivery will vary according to the group and the support being provided, therefore, these may include:

• Support with making a claim to Universal Credit or whilst receiving Universal Credit.
• Regular engagement with a Jobcentre Plus Work Coach.
• Support/referral to digital upskilling.
• Attendance at training opportunities.
• Increased engagement with an individual or organisation.
• Increased motivation/participation in an activity.
• Increased social awareness/skills.
• Attendance at a community group or activity.
• Take up of volunteering opportunities.
• Seeking help from a support group or worker, GP, Counsellor.
• Steps towards removal of a barrier that makes the individual socially excluded. Engagement, progression and achievement of outcomes evidenced via a SMART action plan and exit report.
• Support into employment.

 

How to apply

If you wish to apply you must complete this application form and send it to your local Jobcentre Plus Service Leader; their contact details are here:

jobcentre Plus Service Leaders

We are unable to consider application forms received after the closing date: 31 March 2020.
More information
For further information, please contact your local Jobcentre Plus Service Leader; their contact details are here

Jobcentre Plus Service Leaders