A charity is launching a new grant to help guide more people toward employment.

Groundwork is starting its Community Training Grants in the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

These grants will be worth £5,000 to £20,000.

Martin Petry, Grants Manager at Groundwork London said: “The Community Training Grants are an opportunity to support those furthest from the labour market and help local communities thrive.

“From skills training to programmes that improve confidence, the £5,000 to £20,000 grants support a range of activities designed to help local people who need it most.”

Groundwork is administering grants in the following Dorset local authorities: Dorset County, East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Groundwork London describes itself as a ‘social and environmental regeneration charity’.

They aim to regenerate some of the UK’s most disadvantaged communities with skill support, training opportunities, employment advice and other services.

The charity has over 30 years of experience running grassroots community projects alongside local communities, public bodies, private companies and other voluntary sector organisations to support communities in need.

Mr Petry added: “In 2017 it was estimated that Dorset had a population of 770,700, of these 89,200 were said to be economically inactive and 19,400 want a job.

“Socially inactive people are not in employment but want a job are not classed as unemployed because they have either not sought work in the last four weeks or are not available to start work.

“Despite Dorset having relatively low unemployment rates, there are still local communities and groups who are far from the labour market.

“There are rural areas with low access to jobs and training, as well as communities within the urban areas of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch with residents who may be second, or even third generation unemployed, and who face daily challenges in engaging with training and jobs.”

According to figures from Nomis Official Labour Market Statistics, in 2017 Dorset achieved average employment and unemployment rates of 77.8% and 2.9% respectively, compared with 74.7% and 4.4% for the equivalent UK averages.

For more information about the Groundwork, visit groundwork.org.uk/london.