04 Jun 2016

A question about : REACT Funding (Wales only)

Ј2500 grant funding available for those who have been made redundant in Wales. You need to of been out of work for 6 weeks and out of work whilst training, more info on the link. Most importantly this payment is a grant not a loan so you don't have to pay back.

https://new.wales.gov.uk/topics/educa...ction/?lang=en

This Forum Tip was included in MoneySavingExpert's weekly email
Don't miss out on new deals, loopholes, and vouchers
FAQs
Privacy Policy
Past Emails
Unsubscribe

Best answers:

  • I've applied for mine today. I went through Careers Wales, and found them very helpful.
  • Some questions:
    Do you have to work in Wales or only live there?
    If you are taking 'voluntary' redundancy due to employer relocating (and resulting difficulty in travelling to new location) are you eligible?
    Does not apply to me but may be of interest to some colleagues
  • Hi, wondering if you could give me a clue to what sort of course are available at all. I've worked in customer care but now would like to try beauty, etc. Would I be allowed to do these and can I do online courses/self study or would I have to do part time/full time courses?
    Thanks in advance
  • I work for Careers Wales in North West Wales.
    Just to clarify a few points asked-
    You are eligible to apply for ReAct support if you:
    • have become unemployed in the last 6 months as a result of redundancy, and have not been in continuous employment for 6 weeks or more since being made redundant
    • are under current notice of redundancy
    • was living in Wales on the date your redundancy notice was issued. If you work in Wales but live in England, you can claim support while under notice of redundancy, but must seek support from your local skills council office once redundancy occurs.
    Something not mentioned by anybody so far is the fact that there is also another option to access funding, this being for employers. If an employer is willing to take a redundant worker on for at least a year there is Ј2080 towards wages (Spread over the course of the year) as well as an extra Ј1000 towards training and courses. Both this and the individual Ј2500 grant can not be taken together by the way.
    To find out more information please check this link
    https://www.careerswales.com/adult/features.asp?id=624
    as well as this link for more information on redundancy and how we can help
    https://www.careerswales.com/adult/d...asp?conid=1862
    For more information on courses please visit https://www.careerswales.com click on the "Learning Choices" icon and either register with us or simply fill in the right hand side stating your sex, age and location.
    I would also recommend you to contact your local Careers Centre, all of which are available from the drop down menu "Careers Companies" in the top right hand corner of the screen.
    Hope this helps
    Alwyn
  • ReAct is a grant programme run by The Welsh Assembly Government and is designed to complement and supplement the service offered to redundant workers by Jobcentre Plus and Careers Wales. ReAct support is part funded by the European Social Fund and aims to address the needs of people who have been made redundant, or are under notice of redundancy, through a series of measures designed to remove barriers to obtaining new employment. ReAct targets four key areas where assistance may be required in order for an individual to gain new employment. Two are aimed at providing prospective employers with incentives and assistance to employ a redundant worker, whilst two are aimed at updating the skills of the individual and removing any barriers to training and employment.
    Support under the ReAct programme is available to individuals who:
    · have become unemployed in the last 6 months as a result of redundancy, are currently unemployed, and who have not been in continuous employment for 6 weeks or more in the 3 months prior to the application for support; or,
    · are currently under notice of redundancy; and,
    · have not undertaken any publicly funded training since being made redundant, including the Work Based Learning suite of programs
    Under ReAct, employers who recruit an eligible individual can receive the following benefits:
    · An Employer Recruitment Subsidy of Ј2,080 paid in 4 instalments over a 12 month period.
    · Reimbursement of 70% of the cost of any eligible training (up to a maximum of Ј1,000).
    If you qualify for ReAct and attend a job interview don't forget to mention to the interviewer that they can receive a grant of Ј2,080 just for taking you on. It may be enough to get you the job.
    Support is also available to help individuals increase their skills and remove barriers to learning, or returning to work. In order to ensure that the training undertaken will provide the best possible chance of finding new employment, all applicants for this part of the ReAct programme will need to have their training needs assessed by Careers Wales, who will also advise on suitable training courses and training venues. Under this part of the programme the following financial support is available:
    · 100% of training costs to acquire new skills (up to a maximum of Ј2,500)
    · Help with the cost of special equipment required for training
    · Reimbursement of travel costs to training courses
    · Overnight accommodation costs when training, where appropriate
    · A contribution towards childcare costs whilst training (subject to limits and conditions)
    Whilst you must apply for the training grant in the first 6 months of redundancy, the training can take place after this date.
    This support is available to people living in Wales on the date they were made redundant although the Department for Work and Pensions have recently announced a new package of support to help people get back into work and this will be made available throughout the UK. Your local Jobcentre can provide you with more information.
    For more information on any aspect of the ReAct programme please call the ReAct Team in Swansea on 01792 765888 or by emailing ReAct.Team@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK. Alternatively, please contact your local Careers Wales office who can provide advice and guidance and carry the full range of ReAct application forms.
    The Welsh Assembly ReAct Team
  • O.k, so if you are used to being employed, how are you supposed to pay your bills, eat etc?
    I would love to train as a plumber, but i have to get another job or my mortgage will not get paid.
  • You don't have to remain out of work to train. I am still looking for a job, and will work my studies around my new job.
    I hope that helps.
  • how does this work for sub-contractors?
    I've been without work for 5 weeks, the contract i was working on was terminated early, due to the client's drop in productivity.
    Is it only for persons on PAYE, who've been made redundant?
    Thanks in advance/
  • I qualify for this grant too but like msflowerfairy, i really need financial help with bills etc but want to train. I currently cannot find a job as i am only availible in the morning due to childcare issues and my partner being self employed and working afternoons and evenings and cant even get any more help from benefits and no JSA.
    I would love to do this but im afraid that ill start it and have to quit!
  • [quote=Welsh Assembly ReAct Team;17700393]
    · 100% of training costs to acquire new skills (up to a maximum of Ј2,500)
    · Help with the cost of special equipment required for training

    /quote]
    Hi,
    I have been made redundant 2 weeks ago, and was informed at the jobcentre about the REACT scheme.
    I have a couple of questions, the answers would be really helpful! . . .
  • I was just wondering If online training courses count, such as the ones at www.escapestudios.com ? - its basically where you pay a fee for access to the online training materials for a period of time. The materials are packaged as 'training courses'.
  • In text quoted text above it says "Help with the cost of special equipment required for training" - Does this include computer software? - Which in my profession is an essential tool/piece of equipment.
  • I have found a course which includes access to one of the online courses for 6 months, and also includes the software. Heres the tricky bit . .the cost of the course/bundle is Ј2275.00 ex VAT & Ј2616.25 inc VAT would this be eligible obviously the 'inc vat' price is above the Ј2500 limit, but I'd be willing to pay the difference if I had to. i.e. the further Ј116.25
  • Thanks in advance!
    Paul

  • Is there anywhere where you can get details of the different courses available?
  • Hi, If any of you guys need any IT Training through the ReACT funding programme let me know. I work for an IT Training company and could give you sound advice on working in the IT sector or improving your existing IT skills.
    We have special offers running all the time and you could even get more than the Ј2500 worth of training !!! i.e. 3 courses rather than 2 !!!
    And the best part it should not cost you a penny.
    Also we can assist companies with the Ј2080 Employer Recruitment Subsidy. Again offering savings and getting more training for your Ј2080 Employer Recruitment Subsidy.
    Call me for IT career advice on 01189 794000 and ask for John Gallantree. Please state where you heard my name from when calling.
  • [QUOTE=mshncrtve;18751043]
    Quote:
  • I m also redundant and have applied for react funding. The funds are VAT free and so you can be funded up to Ј2500 course fees exc VAT
  • Hi, just to make you aware that you can also be funded by react to become a professional mortgage and general insurance advisor. It is a 4 week course, 3 weeks studying CeMAP(certificate in mortgage advice and practice) with exams. The fourth week is an induction course showing you how to put all you've learnt into practice. CeMAP is equivalent to an NVQ level 3 and A level.
    Total Mortgage Network is a mortgage broker based in Newport, South Wales; Total Mortgage Academy is the training arm of the company. We have retrained people who have been recently made redundant from First Plus, HSBC, Bosch and many others, as well as training our own advisors.
    For more information and advice e-mail pam@totalgroupuk.com
  • I was made redundant from work and applied ,or was in the process of applying for my HGV training and licence through REACT Wales when I was told by the trainers that if I failed I would be responsible for the whole training costs. Good idea that, Made redundant and get your self in more debt if you fail. Not being negative but a lot of driving is down to a certain amount of luck on the day (old lady pulls out, etc). So rather than a change in career I cancelled course. Still looking for work by the way.
    P.S The information when I did contact REACT, careers Wales and the training company involved was very sketchy at best.
  • If you are facing redundancy or have been made redundant, Career Change Wales provides free career change advice. If you would like to enrol on a ReAct or ProAct funded training courses you can visit: -
    CareerChangeWales.co.uk
  • Hello, just after some 'inside info' really - have looked at the standard info on the WAG website and Careers Wales website.
    Have just received my redundancy notice, and am trying to plan ahead, wondering how to make the best out of this grant I could be entitled to.
    But I take it you cant just do any training you like, it has to be linked to a 'growth industry' or something?
    Does anyone have any examples of people who have used this training grant creatively/wisely? I have visited my local Careers Wales before and found it to be pretty uninspiring..
    I would like to do something a bit 'off the wall', but want to be prudent too and not waste the opportunity.
    Hope Im making sense! cheers
Please Login or Register to reply to this topic