This digital workshop is being hosted alongside employees from Microsoft. This workshop aims to help people improve their CVs and learn more about getting a job within the IT sector. 

Learners will get the opportunity to ask the Microsoft team members questions about their experiences and learn more about the steps to take to work towards their dream IT job. 

Spaces are limited, we'll be in touch with you by email if you are successful in securing a place.

Thank you for your 1-year free WEA membership application as a PANS member. 

We will confirm your membership within 3 working days. If you have any queries, please contact us at [email protected].

Thank you for applying for a LCR grant with the WEA. We will be back in touch in due course.

If you have any questions or need further information about your application, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Strand 1 round 2: Bolton applications open until midday, Thursday 18th April

WEA (Workers Educational Association) and GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) are pleased to launch the second round of funding, specific to Bolton.

This will enable local VCSE organisations and Housing Associations to bid for funding up to £30k to carry out projects in localities, to mobilise disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people to enable their progress towards further education and inclusive employment.

This is strand one, which aims to increase participation in Adult Skills. 

Currently, in Greater Manchester, just 8.7% of working-age adults with a prior attainment of Level 1 or below are accessing skills via the Adult Education Budget. We are looking for new and innovative ways of engaging with our residents, and supporting them in further skills provision – although targeting English, Maths and IT skills this could be any Skills provision, except ESOL, that suits the resident’s needs.

Please complete the short form - if you are eligible, you will be emailed the application form, guidance document and our FAQ document, so please be sure to use a valid email address. If you are not eligible this time, you can complete the short form here and we will keep your email on file for future funding rounds.

All eligibility criteria must be met to apply for a GMCA grant: if you are unable to meet the criteria, you will not be able to apply and any application you do make will be rejected. There will be further opportunities to apply before March 2025.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Phase 2 Open Funding Round Applications - Manchester local authority only

WEA (Workers Educational Association) and GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) are pleased to launch the small open funding, supporting strand 1, for the GMCA Community Grants Programme and solely for Manchester local authority.

This will enable local VCSE organisations and Housing Associations to bid for funding for Strand 1 only and to match either £35,848 OR £71,694. These available funding amounts are set by Manchester local authority and further information can be provided on receipt of your expression of interest.

Strand 1: Essential life skills

This strand aims to increase participation in Adult Skills. Currently, in Greater Manchester, just 8.7% of working-age adults with a prior attainment of Level 1 or below are accessing skills via the Adult Education Budget. 

We are looking for new and innovative ways of engaging with our residents, and supporting them in further skills provision – although targeting English, Maths and IT skills this could be any Skills provision, except ESOL, that suits the resident’s needs.

In the first instance, if you would like to express your interest in applying for Strand 1 funding at the amounts detailed above, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Once receipt of your expression of interest, a member of the WEA Community Grants team will contact you with further information along with the required application form and supporting documents. Please note, there will be certain criteria and eligibility for you to apply notably being a VSCE organisation and able to provide financial management accounts for the past 3 years.

Please note there is a tight deadline for applications which is 5pm on Friday 30th May 2025.

Thank you for applying for a GMCA grant with the WEA. We will be back in touch in due course.

If you have any questions or need further information about your application, please contact us at [email protected]. 

WEA (Workers Educational Association) and GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) are pleased to launch the first round of funding, across 2 strands, for the £5m GMCA Community Grants Programme. 

This will enable local VCSE organisations and Housing Associations to bid for funding up to £100k to carry out projects in localities, with the purpose of mobilising disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people to enable their progress towards further education and inclusive employment. Please refer to the list below of GM borough's project funding caps for which you wish to apply for.

This is strand two, which aims to improve the progression towards inclusive employment

The aim of this strand is to progress people into employment and is very much linked to wider UKSPF People & Skills activity, as well as wider work & skills activity e.g. Working Well. It focuses on re-engagement and engagement activity for residents who would benefit from these programmes but can’t access them at the moment – this could be linked to a range of barriers our residents are facing.

Please complete the short form - if you are eligible, you will be emailed the application form, guidance document and our FAQ document, so please be sure to use a valid email address. If you are not eligible this time, you can complete the short form here and we will keep your email on file for future funding rounds.

All eligibility criteria must be met to apply for a GMCA grant: if you are unable to meet the criteria, you will not be able to apply and any application you do make will be rejected.

Strand 2- Maximum Project Application Funding Caps

Bolton - £30k cap
Oldham - Remaining funding is £38,841. No cap
Rochdale - Remaining funding is £65,338.39. No cap
Tameside - Remaining funding is £70,405.22. No cap
Trafford - £20k cap
Wigan - Remaining funding is £52,748.48. No cap
Bury - no funding available
Salford - no funding available
Stockport - no funding available

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at [email protected]. 

The application deadline is 5pm on Friday 13th June 2025.

Strand 1 round 1: Applications now closed until January 2024

WEA (Workers Educational Association) and GMCA (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) are pleased to launch the first round of funding, across 2 strands, for the £5m GMCA Community Grants Programme. 

This will enable local VCSE organisations and Housing Associations to bid for funding up to £100k to carry out projects in localities, to mobilise disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people to enable their progress towards further education and inclusive employment.

This is strand one, which aims to increase participation in Adult Skills. 

Currently, in Greater Manchester, just 8.7% of working-age adults with a prior attainment of Level 1 or below are accessing skills via the Adult Education Budget. We are looking for new and innovative ways of engaging with our residents, and supporting them in further skills provision – although targeting English, Maths and IT skills this could be any Skills provision, except ESOL, that suits the resident’s needs.

Please complete the short form - if you are eligible, you will be emailed the application form, guidance document and our FAQ document, so please be sure to use a valid email address. If you are not eligible this time, you can complete the short form here and we will keep your email on file for future funding rounds.

All eligibility criteria must be met to apply for a GMCA grant: if you are unable to meet the criteria, you will not be able to apply and any application you do make will be rejected. There will be further opportunities to apply before March 2025.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact us at [email protected].