Thousands of pounds has been invested in charities and social enterprises to help people get the skills they need to return to work.

Three Fenland projects are among seven that have been hand picked to receive £40,000 each from the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Set to benefit locally are the Ferry Project, Reuseful UK and the Rosmini Centre.

Claire Higgins, of the LEP Board, said: “With funding in short supply, these grants enable local organisations to help those furthest from the workplace gain the skills and experience they need to become work ready, more socially mobile, and ultimately secure employment.

“Each of the organisations have demonstrated a unique insight into their local community, and have designed projects that will meet their specifics needs.”

The projects are:

• Ferry Project, Wisbech, will run a job cafe at Queen Mary Centre with job clubs, regular speakers and activities to help people return to work.

• Reuseful UK, March, will create jobs and placements for long-term unemployed by de-branding and remanufacturing uniforms and corporate workwear.

• Rosmini Centre in Wisbech will create a four tier childcare scheme and provide training to improve English language skills and qualifications.

• DIAL Peterborough will help disabled people find work by filming and producing their own CV to better showcase their individual skills.

• Ramsey Neighbour Trust will help ‘hard to reach’ adults engage with learning and employment opportunities by tapping into ‘hobby’ subjects.

• Gladstone Connect which will use funding to establish an employment and skills hub in the Allama Iqbal Family Centre.

• Abbeycroft Leisure will help young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), by using physical activity to develop self-confidence.

Each of the seven projects has been awarded £40,000 to run for a year from January 2016.

At the end of the year all seven will be reviewed and up to three projects will receive a further £50,000 to help them to expand in 2017.