THE Devon Community Foundation is calling for community and voluntary groups in West Devon who work with unemployed people with special difficulties to apply for a Devon Step Up grant ? which could be worth up to £10,000. The Devon Step Up Fund has already supported projects helping people with brain injuries, ex-offenders, homeless people, young people excluded from school and those who need to improve their basic skills to take up new training and volunteer positions, as well as to get back into permanent employment. Melanie McLoughlin, director of DCF, said: ?There are all sorts of reasons why some people find it difficult to get back into employment or training, especially if they?ve been out of the job market for a long time. ?If you?re in this situation it can be very easy to lose confidence, which makes it harder to get back on the track. It becomes a vicious circle. ?The grants are designed to help the community and voluntary sector reach these people and to give them a step up ? back on the road to employment.? The Devon Community Foundation has distributed more than £5 million in grants to more than 1,220 small, voluntary and community groups across the county over the last five years. In Tavistock and West Devon, it has supported more than 40 groups including helping Tavistock Area Support Service to extend its transport service for the over 55s, the Wheelz Project mobile youth team for isolated teenagers, Okehampton Youth Chorus, Tavistock Town Band and West Devon Netball Association. Melanie told the Times: ?Smaller charities and groups often get forgotten in favour of larger charities, despite the fact they are making a real difference to local peoples?? lives everyday. ?By supporting Devon Community Foundation, you can make sure that smaller charities and those in Devon who need the most help are reached.? Grants of up to £10,000 are available from the Devon Step Up Fund but applications need to be in by the end of August. Any group interested in applying for a grant should call Vicky on 01884 235887 or visit the foundation?s website on http://www.devoncf.com">www.devoncf.com Anyone interested in making a donation to the foundation or carrying out a charity event on its behalf should call 01884 235887.
