Stockport VCFSE Work & Skills Fund

Part of the Greater Manchester Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Programme

Funded by the UK Government. Delivered in partnership with Sector 3, Stockport Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the Department for Work and Pensions.

The Stockport VCFSE Work and Skills Fund is part of the
Greater Manchester Economic Inactivity Trailblazer Programme.

The fund plays an important role in Stockport’s Live Well initiative, joining up public, private and VCFSE sectors to support residents to ‘live well’. It is part of a wider commitment to making Stockport a place where everyone can thrive, regardless of background or circumstance.

This £100,000 fund will provide grants of £10,000–£25,000 to incorporated, not-for-profit VCFSE organisations in Stockport.

The programme will:

Tackle inequalities in access to work.

Strengthen employer knowledge and capacity to adopt inclusive recruitment and retention practices.

Build sustainable cross-sector partnerships between businesses and VCFSEs.

Increase opportunities for Stockport residents facing the greatest barriers to employment.

The fund is “trailblazing” in nature. It is designed to help organisations test new approaches or build on existing work to support inclusive employment locally.

Evidence shows that unemployment and poor-quality jobs are significant contributors to both physical and mental health inequalities.

“Stockport has always been a place where innovation and partnership go hand in hand.

This new Work and Skills Fund is a fantastic example of how our voluntary, community, faith, and social enterprise sector can work alongside local businesses to break down barriers to employment.

I’m proud that we’re leading the way in Greater Manchester, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact this fund will have for our residents and communities.”

- Councillor Micheala Meikle, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Skills at Stockport Council

Recipients of the Fund

Six organisations have been awarded funding to deliver transformative projects between November 2025 and March 2026:

Signpost Stockport for Carers
Signpost for Carers want every workplace in Stockport to be somewhere unpaid carers feel understood and supported. The 2021 Census found there are at least 30,000 unpaid carers in Stockport, but the true number is likely much higher. Too often these carers remain hidden in the workplace, struggling silently until the pressure forces them to give up their jobs. That loss is devastating for families and damaging for our local economy.
Think Carer - Carer Champion Workplace Training is a CPD Accredited course for employers, supporting carers & young people (16+) NEET (Not in Education or Training) or at risk of NEET. The training is designed to give people the confidence and tools to identify and support carers in the workplace.
The Garden House Marple Charity
This initiative offers structured volunteering placements, financial literacy sessions, and employer engagement to support disadvantaged young adults in transitioning into paid employment.
Elevate will work with people with disabilities/ long term health conditions; care leavers; those with experience of the criminal justice system; NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) / at risk of NEET.
Rising Stars NW CIC
Stockport’s Underbanks and wider town centre are growing rapidly, with new venues, bars and cultural spaces emerging.
Tapping into this growth, Stockport Cultural Trailblazers is a mentoring programme for young people aged 18–30 who are NEET, care leavers, or ex-offenders.
The group will participate in a five-month Events Management Training and Work Experience Programme, acquiring the practical and professional skills necessary to enter Stockport’s events industry.
They will visit a range of Stockport venues to meet owners, learn about their challenges, and identify opportunities to bring new audiences and music styles into the town’s nightlife, helping to increase footfall and spending in the local economy.
Combining fitness, creativity, and mentoring, this project supports young people facing mental health challenges or substance misuse. The project will enable each participant to move towards a personal “pathway to purpose,” like volunteering, employment, or further education.
The project will help young people take the next step towards meaningful work by inviting local employers to join an evening of collaborative networking, sharing best practice in inclusive recruitment, and receiving a free take-home toolkit of insights and resources co-created by the group.

Drywave Recovery CIC
Both young people and employers will share their own “hero’s journeys, ” alongside showcases of entrepreneurial volunteer projects. Together, these stories aim to help close and demystify the gap between employer and employee and inspire inclusive recruitment.
The Goodness Collective CIC
A 12-week programme supporting women facing multiple barriers to economic independence.
The initiative focuses on supporting women to rediscover their skills and voice AND equipping employers and community partners to respond to women's needs. By combining lived experience from their leadership and delivery team with practical action and partnership, Empowering Wavers, aims to reshape how our local economy values and supports women’s contribution for the long term.
PIE: Pursuing Individual Excellence
Stockport’s VCFSE sector is a thriving and growing space, delivering essential community services and social value. Yet many young people remain unaware of the diverse career paths and opportunities it offers. This project aims to change that, inspiring young people to see the sector as a place to build fulfilling, long-term careers, while helping organisations attract, support, and retain the next generation of talent.
PIE will work with key partners to co-design and test a replicable model of sector-based work experience and volunteering for young NEET and/or care experienced people, ultimately with the aim of enhancing employability.