LEADER/CLLD multi-fund implementation Urban local action groups in Kotka and Helsinki Finland
CLLD LAG Sepra in South-Eastern Finland Kotka city center not eligible in EARDF
HELKA Helsinki Neighbourhoods Association in urban capital area 73 Neighbourhood Associations in Helsinki area
Sepra Sepra is a registered, non-profit association founded in 2000 to act as a Leader Local Action Group There are 87.000 inhabitants of whom 40.000 live on rural areas. Sepra has about 200 paying members. Aim is the development of the area based on local needs, with and for the local people and according to a many year strategy. Local commitment and ownership are the key words for success. Development needs to be done in a frame where Sepra s performance is built-up and improved all the time. Challenge was that until 2014 people living in the Kotka city center had to be excluded from development activities!
HELKA Helka is politically and religiously independent non-governmental organization founded in 1964. There are some 635 000 inhabitants in Helsinki, HELKA has 73 Neighbourhood Associations as paying members. Helka s mission is to activate and bring together residents and local actors in Helsinki City area. Central task is to enhance dialogue between the City of Helsinki and its residents. Helka aims to strengthen diverse opportunities for local participation and interaction in Helsinki. Challenge: roots are in Neighbourhood activities and networks?!
Sepra is not a real CLLD LAG but has funding from several funds; EARDF (3,4 million) and EMFF (1 million) based on Sepra 2020 and ESKO 2020 strategies and contracts with Ministry for 2014-2020 Funding applied when needed from eg. Interreg, CBC, ERASMUS+ Urban Leader Kotka Kotka activities funded with projects and based on local Action Plan 2020 for Kotka -> 30 000 /2014 to get ideas and write the Citizen initiated Action Plan for Kotka (ERDF/Kymenlaakso Regional Council, Kotka City) -> 58 000 /2015-2017 to introduce CLLD method, establish Sepra Urban Section and get started with implementation of the Action Plan; included 8 000 for local activities (ESF/Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment of Häme) -> 133 000 /2019-2019 to implement the Action Plan, to increase Youth participation and learn to make projects; includes 20 000 for local activities (ESF/Centre for Economic Development, Transport and Environment of Häme)
Helka has some funding sources challenges with EU funding Membership fees some 4-7% of the budget Basic funding from Helsinki City 100.000 /year Local Development Path - a city version of the Finnish Leader Groups -> 87 000 /2012-2013 from Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Uusimaa Regional Council -> 50 000 / 01-09/2014 Helsinki City basic funding and ESF lump sum -> 35 500 / 10-12/2014 06/2015 Helsinki City funding From Helsinki City 15 000 /year for max. 3 000 projects No funding for further implementation of Helsinki CLLD model since end of 2015 The new participatory model of Helsinki was approved on City Council 13.11.2017. Implementation of the model will take place during 2018-2021 -> Helka has not yet knowledge of how, by whom and how much funding could the Local Development Path get from this model s funding
Leader Sepra
Sepra Urban Section & team Inspiring and activation; associations and residents Local people Networks and ideas Assisting with activities plannins and budget calculation Planning and commitment Urban section discussions and evaluation Participating to implementation and dealing with invoices Activities meet the needs Impact on local level and learning process Follow-up and payments No burden of bureaucracy
Results: -> Urban section works well (meets about 6 times a year) -> Action Plan activities have been implemented rather well -> several events and activities have taken place with small money but with lots of participants Youth Olympics (including immigrants and disabled youth) Volunteers Event (for NGOs and potential volunteers to meet) Let s eat together (common pick-nick table in the citycenter) Encounters in Kotka (event to get lonely people included in activities) Eat well (a seminar for seniors with Rural Women) Study tours for Urban Sector to meet with rural associations - And many, many others - Realisation: ESF can be made to fit as a funding instrument if the officials and decision makers have the good will It is not an optimal tool but manageable
HELKA Local Development Path Leader-method as basis
Results: -> 6 local development groups (with local development strategies) -> a business plan for a supporting body/ function ( City Shuttle ); -> plans for local hubs and interactive web platforms Realisation: ESF (or ERDF) didn t fit as funding instruments only 1 ESF-funded project in Helsinki (start-up funding for a Centre for mental well being For more information please contact Pirjo Tulikukka Manager Helsingin kaupunginosayhdistykset ry Helka Aurorankatu 19, LH 2000100 Helsinki tel +358 45 145 2595/ +358 41 5222 071 email: pirjo.tulikukka@helka.net
For more information please contact Marjo Tolvanen, manager Leader Sepra www.sepra.fi Marjo.tolvanen@sepra.fi +358 44 277 4513