The Impact Project DPS is being set up by Dudley MBC, on behalf of other Authorities Sandwell MBC, Walsall MBC, The City of Wolverhampton Council & Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council (“the Impact Partners”).The Impact Project DPS will help the Impact Partners deliver a European Social Fund and Youth Employment Initiative funded project (“the Impact Project”) to address high levels of youth unemployment in the Black Country through sustainable integration into the labour market of young people, in particular those aged 15-29 years not in employment, education or training (NEET), including young people at risk of social exclusion and from marginalised communities. Service users are described as “Impact Participants”.

Economic operators will be able to apply to join the Impact Project DPS in respect of 9 service lots covering services including engagement, skills, training, work placements, end to end provision (see below). Some supplies may be purchased via service Lot 8.

To provide targeted engagement activities that result in the enrolment of eligible participants (young people aged between 15-29 who are not in employment, education and training and who reside in the West Midlands) onto the Impact Project.

In particular the Impact Partners are seeking Service Providers who can provide targeted engagement activities that focus on engaging eligible participants who are within hard to reach groups which would otherwise be unlikely to engage with the Impact Project.

These groups may include particular communities of interest (such as BME communities), migrant groups, long-term unemployed, economically inactive, lone parents, teenage parents and looked after children, those who have disabilities or health problems which affect their employment. This service lot is divided into 5 geographic sub-categories:

(a) Black Country wide (all areas);

(b) Dudley;

(c) Sandwell;

(d) Walsall;

(e) Wolverhampton.

The impact partners seek service providers to provide specialist support to Impact Participants on a one-to-one or small group basis to reflect the needs of the impact participants and the barriers they need to overcome to move forward towards employment.

Below is a non-exhaustive list:

— mental health/Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT),

— drug and alcohol support,

— debt support and personal budgeting,

— homelessness support,

— counselling,

— maximising income/better off calculations,

— specialist mentoring,

— dialectical behaviour therapy and story line work,

— specialist health services e.g. self-harm, alternative therapies i.e. Reiki, meditation, mindfulness.

This list is purely indicative of the type of specialist support that may be provided. Service provision must be bespoke and tailored to the specific needs of impact participants.

This lot is split into 5 geographic sub-categories:

(a) Black Country wide (all areas);

(b) Dudley;

(c) Sandwell;

(d) Walsall;

(e) Wolverhampton.

Skills for life and life skills e.g. skills for life:

— basic skills — literacy and numeracy, diagnostic assessment,

— assessment for dyslexia,

— ICT skills,

— pre-entry support for ESOL,

— ESOL,

— preparation for life and work,

— pre-entry level support for employment/training for young people that are looked after children/those leaving care and those departing from a youth institution or prison.

Life skills:

— improving low self-esteem/building confidence,

— self-motivation,

— interpersonal and communication,

— public speaking,

— assertiveness,

— negotiating,

— decision making,

— problem solving,

— work ready routines,

— time management,

— budgeting/financial awareness,

— opening bank account,

— independent travel/using public transport,

— healthy lifestyles,

— substance use awareness e.g. smoking, drinking and illegal/legal highs. The above lists are purely indicative. This Service Lot is split into 5 sub-categories:

(a) Black Country wide (all areas);

(b) Dudley;

(c) Sandwell;

(d) Walsall;

(e) Wolverhampton.

Provide activities and programmes which will give impact participants employability and work skills. Activities and programmes should be structured but also allow flexibility for the differing needs of the impact participants. Employability skills: may include programmes and activities relating to:

— CVs,

— application form filling techniques,

— job search, job matching,

— interview techniques,

— mock interviews including with real employers.

Work skills: may include programmes and activities relating to:

— team working,

— problem solving,

— timekeeping,

— workplace reality,

— appearance,

— presentation,

— communication.

The above lists are purely indicative of the type of employability and work skills that may be provided under this Service Lot. Service provision must be bespoke and tailored to the needs of impact participants.

This service lot has been divided into 5 geographic subcategories:

(a) Black Country wide (all areas);

(b) Dudley;

(c) Sandwell;

(d) Walsall;

(e) Wolverhampton.

Employer and sector specific training to Impact Participants or groups of Impact Participants. This service lot has been divided into the following sub-categories:

(a) science and mathematics;

(b) languages, literature and culture;

(c) arts, media and publishing;

(d) business, admin and law;

(e) health, public services and care;

(f) social science;

(g) leisure, travel and tourism;

(h) information and communication technology;

(i) engineering manufacturing technologies;

(j) retail and commercial enterprises;

(k) construction, planning and the built environment;

(l) agriculture, horticulture and animal care;

(m) other employer and sector specific training.

The above list is purely indicative of the types of employer and sector specific training that may be provided under this service lot. Service provision must be bespoke and tailored to the needs of the impact participants.

This service lot has been divided into 5 geographic sub-categories:

(f) Black Country wide (all areas);

(g) Dudley;

(h) Sandwell;

(i) Walsall;

(j) Wolverhampton.

Specialist alternative placements and work tasters for impact participants with intensive needs. Activities may include, for example, supported internships for people with learning disabilities and/or difficulties, boot camps, team building exercises and life skills. This is a purely indicative list. Service provision must be bespoke to the impact participants and tailored to meet the specific needs of impact participants. Placements and work tasters will need to be suitable for the needs of the impact participant(s) in question, to support the overarching action plan for the impact participant(s) and be flexible in terms of attendance for achievement of outcome aims.

Providers will have a developed package of delivery focused on supporting the impact participant(s) and it is expected that Service Providers will put forward their own creative and innovative proposals for activities which fit the Impact Participant's needs.

This Service Lot has been divided into 5 geographic sub-categories:

(k) Black Country wide (all areas);

(l) Dudley;

(m) Sandwell;

(n) Walsall;

(o) Wolverhampton.

Service providers will be given details of impact participants in need of work experience, work tasters or employment opportunities and details of their relevant needs (identified in their intervention plan). Service providers will then identify employers or community organisations which are willing and able to provide the appropriate work experience placements, tasters and employment opportunities which will aim to achieve employment for the impact participant and/or provide some underpinning knowledge of the sector for them to feel comfortable to apply for roles or an apprenticeship, depending upon the impact participant's aspirations. Where the impact participant accepts the work experience placement, taster or employment opportunity, the service provider will support the Impact Participant at the beginning of the placement and throughout that placement ensuring any challenges for the impact participant and the employer are addressed.

This service lot has been divided into 5 geographic sub-categories:

(p) Black Country wide (all areas);

(q) Dudley;

(r) Sandwell;

(s) Walsall;

(t) Wolverhampton.

For many impact participants there will be external barriers which affect their ability to undertake training and education and enter employment. Barriers may relate to e.g. transport, childcare, other care responsibilities and/or obtaining uniforms/protective clothing.

Service providers will provide services and/or supplies which address these barriers (also known as out of pocket expenses).

This service lot is split into the following sub-categories:

(a) travel assistance for impact participants (for example bus or rail passes and/or transport services);

(b) childcare;

(c) other activities or supplies being out of pocket expenses for impact participants (for example, uniforms, protective clothing and essential equipment for courses or training).

The above list is purely indicative. Provision must be bespoke and tailored to the impact participants.

Whilst we have referred to “Service Provider” as a generic term, in some instances this service lot may be used to purchase supplies.