European Structural and Investment Funds

CASE STUDY: Andy – Stirling Council (European Social Fund)

October 16, 2020 by Patrick Douglas No Comments | Category Case study

The Learning, Employability & Progression (LEAPS) project at Stirling Council has helped hundreds of local people find work, gain qualifications or to move on to further education. LEAPS is supported with £770,000 of allocated grant from the European Social Fund (ESF).

LEAPS assists people like Andy, who had not worked for an employer for five years when he registered. Andy had a range of barriers to employment including disability, low-skilled, living in a jobless household and homelessness.

Though Andy had some sporadic self-employed work at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, he was struggling financially and was desperate to work. At this stage, with no access to the internet, his keyworker arranged for a phone call to discuss job opportunities. The keyworker then supported him by applying for relevant jobs on his behalf.

Andy was thrilled when he then gained employment with Stirling Council Land services as a driver/grass-cutter which began in May 2020. Andy said to his ESF-supported key worker: “Thanks for everything you have done for me. More than most [you] know what I have been through and didn’t give up. And for that I am truly grateful.”

To find out more about LEAPS at Stirling Council, visit: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/learning-education/learning-employability/leap-learning-employability-progression/

Project details

• Operation name: LEAPS – Learning, Employability & Progression
• ESF contribution: £770,443
• Total expenditure: £1,618,599
• Lead Partner: Stirling Council
• Thematic Objective: 8. Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility
• Programme: European Social Fund 2014-2020

Tags: case study, esf, European Social Fund

Comments