Czech funding programmes for social services and training

In late July 2026 the Czech Republic announced two new regional grant programmes for 2027 aimed at bolstering social‑service provision for people with disabilities. One call, issued by the city of Ostrava, targets NGOs, churches and public‑interest companies to fund year‑round operations, information campaigns and protected‑workplace placements, with applications due 9 October. A parallel call from the South Bohemian Region offers interest‑free, repayable subsidies for a range of services—including preventive counselling, ambulatory and residential care, and emergency assistance—with a deadline of 31 October.

At the same time, the national labour office launched a 50,000 CZK retraining subsidy intended to support both unemployed and employed job‑seekers. After the eligibility criteria were tightened, applications fell sharply from tens of thousands to only a few thousand, curbing interest in the scheme. The office is now emphasizing digital‑skill courses and CNC machining, and has introduced the DIGIkurzy project, which provides up to 35,000 CZK per individual and up to 38,000 CZK per employer for digital training.

Together, these developments show the Czech authorities pursuing parallel strategies: expanding regional financial support for disability‑related social services while grappling with declining participation in a national workforce‑retraining program and seeking to revitalize it through targeted digital‑skill initiatives.