Council secures funding for Life Skills project

Orkney Islands Council has secured £170,000 of funding for a project to help vulnerable groups to develop key life skills.

The project will see the council procure a service to provide information, training and support for local people on subjects such as managing household budgets, home cooking and DIY, reducing waste and sensible borrowing.

A further strand of the project will be the provision of advice around fuel poverty, including face to face advice on energy efficiency, help for householders to access grant funding and support for householders to switch tariff or energy suppliers where appropriate.

The funding for the project will come from the European Social Fund which is administered by the Scottish Government. Match funding of £170,000 is required for the project and will have to be provided by the procured delivery agent.

Participants on the scheme will be identified through referral from local agencies, but it is also hoped that an on-street, drop-in service can also be provided.