The Vale Volunteer Bureau helps to deliver the Engagement Gateway Scheme

The Vale Volunteer Bureau is able to offer training, support and guidance to organisations within the Vale of Glamorgan who are approved suppliers for the WCVA’s Engagement Gateway Scheme.  For information on approved organisations please click here.  The Approved suppliers list is currently closed to new applications.

What is the Engagement Gateway?

It is a scheme supported by funding from the European Union.  The aim is to reduce economic inactivity in Wales by investing in organisations that work with those outside of mainstream employment and people who are considered furthest from the labour market. 

Since the inclusion of the Regional Competitiveness areas in Wales this scheme now operates in all 22 unitary authority areas in Wales, there is a dedicated person based within all County Voluntary Councils/Volunteer Bureaux to provide information on Engagement Gateway projects with their areas for a full list of contacts please click here 

Eligible Organisations

Organisations were eligible to apply to the Engagement Gateway Scheme if they work with groups that are out of touch with mainstream services, or at high risk of long term benefit dependency, including groups facing a specific disadvantage, such as:

• Women who want to return to work
• Black, Asian and minority ethnic people
• People with work limiting health condition or disability
• Mental health service users
• People over 50 years
• Lone parents
• Young people not in education or training
• People in receipt of incapacity benefit
• Economically inactive people throughout Wales (that are not on the work programme)

It is not a requirement that the organisation is based within the geographical area for which they are planning to work.  However, they will be required to have detailed knowledge of the area and of the client groups for which they plan to work with.  

Gateway Contract/Grant Awards

For examples of Engagement Gateway contracts that have already been awarded please click here

In the Vale of Glamorgan the following projects are up an running and looking for participants:

Gofal Cymru - Seeking to engage 30 socially and economically excluded people with mental health problems in activities targeted at access to education, training and employment.  Serving residents in Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan, the programme will provide support to develop the confidence and self esteem of participants.

Innovate Trust – Their ‘Healthy Ventures’ project is seeking to engage with 100 disabled people within Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.  Participants will complete their ‘Healthy Ventures’ programme that enables disabled people to take part in exciting and challenging activities, whilst assisting them on their pathway to employment.  Those who take part will gain new vocational skills and experience whilst improving their general health, well being and generic soft skills.

Innovate Trust - Their ‘Field Days Organic’ project takes place at a site on Amelia Trust Farm which is a soil associated accredited organic horticultural project.  They are currently seeking disabled particpants who wish to train in a real work environment and gain emplyment and environmental skills.

Innovate Trust - Their ‘Expressions’ project is a training programme for disabled people, or people with mental health issues from Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan to enable them to gain access to the labour market.  Photography will be used as a medium to learn information technology, basic photography and generic soft skills required for the workplace.

Hafan Cymru – ‘Moving on’ is Hafan Cymru’s Learning and Work project,  It provides a combination of personal development and employability accredited learning to vulnerable people from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan enabling them to oversome their personal obstacles such as lack of skills and confidence and assist them in moving closer to becoming economically active.

Amelia Trust Farm – They are looking to engage with 82 participants from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan on their 160 acre site.  Their aim is to bridge the gap between educationa and employment within the countryside and agricultural sectors.  They will work primarily with young people (16+) who are not in receipt of JSA or ESA.  They will provide vocational skills to participants whilst raising their confidence levels and motivating them to work.

Prince’s Trust Cymru – They are seeking to engage with 24 people from the Vale of Glamorgan to develop community projects or social enterprises within their community.  Young people will have the opportunity to gain a qualification in ‘Exploring Community Enterprise’ and after the project Prince’s Trust can help participants explore their own business idea if applicable.

Vale Volunteer Bureau – Through their ‘Steps to Progess’ programme they are seeking to offer a volunteer taster programme to young people who are currently not in education, employment or training and not claiming JSA or ESA.  The volunteer taster programme will enable participants to increase and enhance their level of confidence, experience and qualifications to gain transferrable employment skills.

Cardiff and Vale Rescue Association (CAVRA) – They are currently seeking participants who are economically inactive (and not on the work programme) to take part in a programme of activities that will help build confidence.  Participants will also gain transferrable skills such as teamworking and will be able to gain qualifications in First Aid plus other courses if identified (including use of defibrulators, RYA etc)

Further information is available from:

Vale Volunteer Bureau, 34 Holton Road, Barry, CF63 4HD. 

(01446) 421782 or e-mail natalie@vvb.org.uk or sarah@vvb.org.uk