Projects & Partnerships 30 July 2023

London Propel

London Propel is a Pan-London collaborative funding programme supported by London Funders, to support capacity building projects for voluntary and community sector organisations to explore, develop and lead collaborative approaches to tackle some of London’s biggest challenges. The funders common objectives align to three of the key "London Recovery Missions" advanced by the GLA and their Pan-London partners and stakeholders, namely building stronger communities, a new deal for Young People, and a robust safety net for Londoners (which includes access to advice services).   

The London Legal Support Trust and Propel funders are supporting Citizens Advice Wandsworth (CAW) to lead on one of the Propel projects under the ‘Robust Safety net’ funding scheme; these projects aim to strengthen the London advice sector by addressing the 'skills gaps' as identified in a report commissioned by London Funders - Addressing the Skills Gap within Advice Services. It therefore has the following focus;

• Building the future workforce for the advice sector, ensuring that advisors are rooted in communities experiencing disadvantage
• Strengthening the sustainability of the organisations and services that provide advice to marginalised communities, linking to job pathways for those who are trained under the advice workforce development initiatives

Working with the London Citizens Advice network the project will be testing two approaches to workforce development. Commencing this September, CAW will be working with two equity-led local community partners and five local Citizens Advice’s across London to recruit, train and create employment pathways for these seven trainee advisers who will be rooted in communities experiencing disadvantage.

Skills Gap report