More than $215,000 has been awarded to 14 not-for-profit organisations in Melbourne’s inner northern suburbs as part of the 2011 Inner North Community Foundation’s Pathways to Employment grant round.

The funding will be used to run projects that will provide 700 marginalised people with skills and training to help break down barriers to work.

Some organisations have received funding for the first time while others have enjoyed an ongoing relationship with the Inner North Community Foundation since 2008.

Organisations that received funding:

• CERES in East Brunswick will establish a new shared community cooking space offering cooking, catering and training opportunities for the community
• Anti-Racism Action Band (A.R.A.B) continues their Step Up! Program, which builds skills for young artists
• Inner Northern Local Learning and Employment Network‘s Young Women’s Leadership Program for marginalised young women will build access to local network opportunities
• Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association in Richmond will work with youth who have been in contact with the criminal justice system
• Richmond Rotary Next Step Trust‘s Next Step Program will continue a mentor program for disengaged young people
• Fitzroy Learning Network will focus on helping culturally and linguistically diverse people undertaking English classes
• Fitted for Work in Northcote will help long-term unemployed women prepare for job interviews
• Incito Maintenance will recruit a part-time Tradie Mentor Coordinator to work with construction service workers from marginalised and disadvantaged backgrounds
• LaTrobe Lifeskills‘ Seed to Feed Transition to Employment Program will help participants with intellectual disabilities learn permaculture skills
• Sprout Community Gardens will continue to offer 90 participants mental health recovery and wellbeing through the Sprout Community Market
• RMIT College of Design and Social Context, Northern Partnerships Unit in Bundoora will assist students that don’t speak English as their first language with the transition from study to employment
• The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre will connect job-ready new migrants with local employers using existing industry partners to help raise awareness of asylum seeker issues
• Whitelion will assist young people, particularly those of Indigenous background, who have had involvement or are at risk of involvement with the Youth Justice System
• YWCA‘s Women at Work program will run an employment readiness program using group and arts based therapy for women who have been long-term unemployed.