ESF Federal Programme Kick-off Conference The Social City Education, Economy and Employment

Kick-off Conference BIWAQ Summary 11 ESF Federal Programme Kick-off Conference The Social City Education, Economy and Employment in the Local Neighbourhood (BIWAQ) Summary Programme launch on 16 March 2009 in Berlin In 2009 a series of projects will begin as part of the new ESF federal programme, The Social City Education, Economy and Employment in the Local Neighbourhood (BIWAQ). The programme will be the first to include more labour market measures in the social space-oriented approach of the Social City urban development programme. It builds on knowledge gathered through the ESF special programme Local Employment, Education and Participation (Social City programme area), which the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs implemented in 2007/2008. The kick-off conference on 16 March 2009 in the Erich-Klausener-Saal at the BMVBS brought together over 300 interested parties, including experts, people with practical knowledge in the field, politicians and academics, affording them an opportunity to share their experiences. Over half of the attendees were or are involved in local projects linked to the two Social City labour market partner programmes. As a result, discussions on practical aspects of implementing local projects played a major role in the proceedings. All parties welcomed the opportunity to share experiences and resolved to continue and strengthen such efforts in the future. The presentations and discussions highlighted the fact that, in addition to opening up new horizons for project participants, linking labour market projects with Social City integrated development programmes, local networks, economic structures and urban development investment creates new opportunities for the neighbourhood as a whole. Longterm benefits for the neighbourhoods include strengthening local cooperation structures, upgrading residential areas, improving neighbourhood image and developing a bond between residents and their district. The congress focused principally on the open project approach which allows projects to be individually tailored to meet the respective needs of the Social City programme areas and their resident target groups. This as the ESF special programme evaluation results presented at the congress showed is an important prerequisite for ensuring sustainable success for the schemes, given the complexity of problems facing residents of the programme areas. The congress included presentations on projects in Berlin, Halle and Düren/Eschweiler, which convincingly demonstrated how very specific project approaches can be developed for individual target groups such as chronically truant students and young people and adults from immigrant backgrounds. In each case, local networks, i.e. links with neighbourhood management and municipalities, schools, businesses, religious communities, immigrant organizations, sports clubs and social institutions, play a major role in developing the project and implementing project modules. However, participants also noted that they had experienced obstacles and stumbling blocks in this area. It became clear that there is no panacea for dealing with opposition to cooperation, but that it is vital to address the interests and practical constraints of the other party, to use carefully structured communication methods and to acknowledge that convincing others to get on board requires a great deal of patience. While most presentations and audience discussions focused on strategies aimed at achieving the social and professional integration of target groups, one presentation specifically addressed the challenges involved in strengthening the local economy. It discussed the intercommunal BIWAQ project, MIQUA, which aims to establish a neighbourhood-specific microfinance structure and to harness this for interested programme areas. Mr Weidner, director of KIZ ggmbh, used the conference as an opportunity to raise awareness of the microfinance tool and to explore other areas for partnership. Overall, the conference demonstrated that support from the European Social Fund (ESF) can help to more effectively implement one of the Social City s main

12 Auftaktkongress Soziale Stadt Bildung, Wirtschaft, Arbeit im Quartier (BIWAQ) Positive economic perspectives for people in disadvantaged urban areas are the basic requirements for successful integration, social participation and communal life. Federal Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee Key data for the Social City urban development promotion programme 1999 161 programme areas in 124 municipalities 2008 523 programme areas in 328 municipalities 1999 to 2008 Investment of around 760 million in federal funds, and approx. 1.5 billion additional aid from state and municipal funds aims: investing in urban development goes hand in hand with improving future prospects for individuals. The Social City programme and its integrative approach to funding serve as an example for the national urban development policy that the German federal government launched two years ago. The interdepartmental programmatic approaches and cooperative work, which are being trialled using model schemes and the labour market ESF partner programmes in the Social City, also provide impetus for innovative ideas in this sphere. These approaches should be further developed and transferred to other fields of activity in the national urban development policy. The German federal government s urban development policy is also a major step towards implementing the Leipzig Charter on Sustainable European Cities. The Social City an urban development promotion programme for disadvantaged urban neighbourhoods Urban areas reflect economic and social developments. As a result of increasing social disparities and polarization of living conditions and future prospects, there is a growing cleft between neighbourhoods. Urban development policies and urban development promotion must address the needs of those living in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. The Social City programme is the main tool in this regard. Social City programme approaches An integrated approach going beyond structural renewal. Investments in buildings and flats and living environment and infrastructure are supplemented by additional measures for improving residents living conditions and social circumstances. This includes promoting education, employment and qualifications, supervised leisure activities for young people, and health and social integration. Pooling of players, resources and programmes. Municipalities draft integrated development plans, which link goals and fields of activity from a variety of different areas. This process involves active resident participation and intensive dialogue with all relevant players, particularly from the economy, politics, organizations, associations and from the various neighbourhood management structures. The programme draws on local neighbourhood potential, and residents competences and dynamism in particular. The aim is to develop sustainable local structures of communication and cooperation. Since the programme began in 1999 it has helped support, stabilize and upgrade 520 neighbourhoods in some 330 urban areas and communities. Since 2006 it has also funded around 400 model schemes in interdepartmental fields of activity. Social City model projects The programme adopted a broader approach in 2006. By introducing model schemes, the urban development promotion programme now also provides direct support to socially integrative and interdepartmental measures. Schemes are eligible for funding if their aims support the integrated development strategies and if they are unable to reach their planned potential without funding. As a result, over 400 model schemes have been included in the programme areas, particularly in the fields of integration and children and young people. New impetus from social spaceoriented labour market policy High unemployment, lack of training positions and fragile local economies reinforce the need for action in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. Many people require aid that goes far beyond qualification measures. They need individually designed,

Kick-off Conference BIWAQ Summary 13 longer-term personal support that draws on the social environment and neighbourhood management networks. With this in mind the integrated approach of the Social City urban development promotion programme has included labour market measures since 2006. The federal government and ESF have earmarked additional funds specifically for the programme areas to bolster such initiatives. The European Social Fund Investing in people The ESF is the European Union s main tool for providing labour market support. It helps to stimulate employment by enhancing employability, entrepreneurial spirit, adaptability, equal opportunities and investment in human resources. Anchoring labour market measures in the neighbourhoods in their networks, economic, architectural and spatial structures gives rise to individual projects, which are adapted to meet specific local needs and potentials. Combining measures from different fields of activity provides scope for testing innovative ideas. Findings of the ESF special programme Local Employment, Education and Participation In 2006 the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Affairs (BMVBS) and the Federal Ministry of Work and Social Affairs launched the ESF special programme Local Employment, Education and Participation. It is subdivided into two programme areas: Social City and XENOS. Projects which ran until 2008 in the Social City areas combined measures from the following four fields of activity: Improving integration of the long-term unemployed in the labour market; Improving the integration of young people in the training and labour market; Boosting the local economy, with a view to creating additional training positions and job opportunities; Promoting civic structures. Gender equality and specific support for people with immigrant backgrounds and businesses driving the immigrant economy were integral elements of the programme. The social-space dimension makes it possible to approach target groups in their everyday surroundings. In the course of the project, participants acquired new qualifications and competences, developed greater self-confidence and increased their spatial mobility with regard to job and training opportunities. Many projects also benefited the neighbourhoods as a whole: qualification measures involved upgrading green spaces, playgrounds and leisure activities in the neighbourhood, or renovating buildings essential to the social infrastructure. They extended local structures of communal and economic cooperation, founded training associations and trained residents as multipliers. Many urban areas also profited from an enhanced image and greater sense of belonging among residents. Combining labour market goals with funding measures for the local community contributed considerably to the acceptance of the projects in the neighbourhoods and to a more open attitude towards participants. Key data for the ESF special programme Local Employment, Education and Participation (Social City programme area) Project duration April 2007 to September 2008 Funding 12 million from the ESF 5 million from BMVBS funds Projects A total of 48 projects in 58 Social City programme areas with 11,340 participants

14 Auftaktkongress Soziale Stadt Bildung, Wirtschaft, Arbeit im Quartier (BIWAQ) Key data for the ESF federal programme BIWAQ Duration 2008 to 2015 in two rounds of funding Funding 104 million from the ESF 60 million from BMVBS funds Projects in the first funding round Around 90 projects in approx. 100 Social City project areas Conclusions drawn from the ESF federal programme The Social City Education, Economy and Employment in the Local Neighbourhood (BIWAQ) In 2008, with the ESF federal programme The Social City Education, Economy and Employment in the Local Neighbourhood (BIWAQ), the BMVBS continued and further developed the tried-and-tested funding approach of social space-oriented labour market policy. The BMVBS retained the proven fundamental principles of the funding approach while modifying the priorities and framework conditions: Anchoring the projects locally is a key factor to success. Therefore more emphasis was placed on local cooperative structures, links with integrated municipal development schemes and creating ties with urban development investments. Additional measures for the transition from school to employment play a more prominent role as a preventative measure. This aims to improve at an early stage opportunities and requirements for integrating school-leavers in the professional world. Longer leadtimes and longer funding periods lasting up to four years make it possible to develop sustainable cooperation structures and support young people over the entire course of their training. A considerable increase in funding. The ESF has provided 104 million; the BMVBS has made 60 million available. Social space-oriented labour market policy Strengthening the local economy Integrating the longterm unemployed in the labour market Relevant local partners Integrating young people in the training and labour market Investments in promoting urban development Improving the transition from school to employment Integrated development schemes Labour market added value Using local networks -- to reach target groups -- to develop links between businesses and job seekers -- to encourage cooperation between schools and businesses -- to socially integrate participants Using local infrastructure, e.g. for qualification modules Synergy effects with other projects and programmes... Added value for neighbourhoods Expanding networks Training multipliers Improving local infrastructure Boosting image Developing a stronger bond between participants and their neighbourhood...

Kick-off Conference BIWAQ Summary 15 Bund-Länder-Programm Soziale Stadt # Kiel Urban areas and communities in the Social City programme (2007 programme year), ESF special programme and BIWAQ Rostock Hamburg Schwerin Szczecin Type of urban area/community Bremen Large city Medium-sized town Small town Rural community Berlin Hannover Amsterdam Magdeburg Potsdam Bielefeld Essen Cottbus Halle/S. Dortmund Social City only Social City with ESF special programme Social City with BIWAQ Urban regions Areas outside urban regions Leipzig Düsseldorf Kassel Dresden Köln Bonn Chemnitz Erfurt Liège Wiesbaden Frankfurt/M. Praha Mainz Luxembourg Mannheim Nürnberg Saarbrücken Strasbourg Ulm München Freiburg i.br. 100 km Zürich Innsbruck Datenbasis: Städtebauförderungsdatenbank und BIWAQDatenbank des BBSR, Stand Oktober 2008 Geometrische Grundlage: BKG, Gemeinden, 31.12.2006 Städte und Gemeinden im Programm Soziale Stadt (Programmjahr 2007), ESF Sonderprogramm und BIWAQ Stadt-/Gemeindetyp Großstadt Mittelstadt Kleinstadt Landgemeinde nur Soziale Stadt Stadtregionen Soziale Stadt mit ESF Sonderprogramm Gebiete außerhalb der Stadtregionen Soziale Stadt mit BIWAQ BBR Bonn 2009 Stuttgart Database: Urban development promotion database and the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning s BIWAQ database of October 2008 Geometric basis: Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy, communities, 31 December 2006