The Skills for Londoners Community Outreach Programme provides funding to community organisations to help more Londoners access adult education, training and employment support opportunities.
The programme focuses on outreach and engagement, targeting people who are least likely to access learning but would benefit the most.
About the Programme
Delivered by the Greater London Authority, the programme is part of the Mayor of London’s wider commitment to improving skills, employment and economic opportunity across the capital.
Many Londoners face barriers to engaging with education and training, including low confidence, lack of awareness or previous negative experiences. This programme funds organisations to bridge that gap through trusted, community-based engagement.
The aim is to increase participation in adult learning and ensure more people can access opportunities to improve their skills and employment prospects.
How Much Funding Is Available
- £70,000 to £120,000 per organisation
- Funding for a 2-year delivery period
- Up to 28 organisations will be funded
This is a significant funding opportunity for organisations able to deliver outreach at scale.
What the Programme Supports
The programme funds community-led outreach activities that:
- Raise awareness of adult education and employment support opportunities
- Engage people who face barriers to learning
- Build trust and relationships within local communities
- Refer individuals into training, skills and employment programmes
Activities may include:
- Community engagement and outreach sessions
- Information, advice and signposting
- Partnership working with training providers and support services
- Events and campaigns promoting learning opportunities
The focus is not on delivering training directly, but on helping people access existing provision.
Target Groups
The programme prioritises Londoners who are least likely to engage with adult education, including those who:
- Have low or no formal qualifications
- Are digitally excluded
- Have experienced barriers to education or employment
- Come from underrepresented or disadvantaged communities
Organisations should demonstrate strong relationships with these groups and the ability to engage them effectively.
Who Is Eligible
To apply, organisations must:
- Be London-based community organisations or partnerships/consortia
- Have an annual income under £500,000
- Demonstrate experience of working with target communities
- Be able to deliver outreach and engagement activity at scale
Partnership applications are encouraged to maximise reach and impact.
Programme Requirements
Funded organisations will be expected to:
- Deliver engagement activity within local communities
- Build referral pathways into adult education and employment support
- Work collaboratively with providers and local partners
- Track engagement and referral outcomes
The programme places strong emphasis on measurable impact and effective partnership working.
Application Timeline
- Deadline: 22 May 2026 (12pm)
Applications must be submitted via the Greater London Authority’s Open Project System.
Applicants are required to review the full prospectus and delivery handbook before applying.
What Makes This Programme Significant
This programme stands out because:
- High-value funding for outreach rather than delivery
- Strong focus on engaging underrepresented communities
- Emphasis on partnership working and system-wide impact
- Direct link to London’s skills and employment infrastructure
It plays a key role in ensuring that those who need support the most are connected to opportunities.
