The Big Lottery Fund opened funding applications today for a regional £15m fund to tackle social exclusion and long-term unemployment in Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

The funding is part of BIG's Building Better Opportunities Fund which matches money provided by the European Social Fund to provide investment for 71 local projects across England. 

Today's £15m fund annoucement is provided jointly by BIG and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Funds will be made available through three programmes – including £7.4m for a Towards Work Project, providing support for 18 to 24-year-olds and over 40s to get back into work.

A further £4.6m is allocated to a multiple and complex needs programme, for people struggling to get work due to health, family care, homelessness or confidence issues.

Some £3m will go towards a financial inclusion programme which aims to teach people in financial difficulties to better understand, plan and manage their personal finances.

David Ralph, chief executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “D2N2 is committed to inclusive economic growth, which is why we are investing heavily in creating sustainable jobs through major programmes such as Building Better Opportunities.

“Tackling unemployment which lasts months or even years requires a multi-layered approach. It is an issue which must be addressed, as moving someone into useful employment can not only improve one life but a whole family’s and, to some extent, the whole economy.”

The £15m fund aims to help some 3,996 participants in the D2N2 area, with half being women and a high proportion of over-50s and people with disabilities.

Organisations and businesses looking to lead on any of the above projects can apply online through the Big Lottery Fund website.

Applications for funding close on 3 August 2015. 

BIG announced in February that it would take steps to ensure that charities win more of the grant money provided jointly with the EU.