SPOTLIGHT REPORT EU supported projects in the East of England March 2016
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Introduction The East of England European Partnership is often asked about how our partners in the East of England have made use of European funding to support their initiatives and projects. Whether using different sources of funding, working individually or in collaboration with other organisations both within the United Kingdom and across European Union countries, there are many examples of how funding has been used to make a difference. This report throws a spotlight on some of those examples. Contents 1. Spotlight on investment 5 Renewable Energy - wind farm (Suffolk) 5 Education infrastructure (Hertfordshire and Luton, UEA) 5 Ultrafast broadband in rural areas (Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex and others) 6 Upgrading water and sanitation systems (Anglian Water) 6 2. Spotlight on supporting regional development 7 Supporting businesses in renewable energy (UEA) 7 Retrofitting homes and supporting SMEs (Broadland District Council) 7 Grants and support for SMEs (Breckland Council, Central Bedfordshire) 8 Helping people into work (Luton Borough Council) 8 New facilities at Southwold Harbour (Waveney District Council) 8 Supporting rural development (Bedfordshire) 9 Developing low carbon energy investment 9 (Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Peterborough City Council) Sharing creative industry experience as an exemplar in Europe (Thurrock Council) 10 Nature conservation on the Norfolk coast (National Trust) 10 3. Spotlight on specific EU funding for innovative SMEs 11 4. Spotlight on working with partners in Europe 12 Maximising use of green spaces 12 (Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Essex Wildlife Trust) Understanding and managing non-native species (Norfolk County Council) 12 Water management in areas at risk of flooding 13 (Essex County Council, Chelmsford Borough Council) 3
Working with communities and businesses to lower emissions 13 (Suffolk County Council, Norfolk County Council Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce) Biomethane as an alternative source of energy (Norfolk County Council) 13 Road safety for older people (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council) 14 Strengthening the health economy and assistive technology 14 (Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk Hospitals Trust, Health Enterprise East, Anglia Ruskin University) ICT-based solutions for inter-generational exchange (Thurrock Council) 15 Developing an autonomous and intelligent wheelchair (University of Essex) 15 Healthy ageing in the workplace (Suffolk County Council) 16 Business, innovation and visual design (Anglia Ruskin University) 16 5. Spotlight on collaborative research and innovation 17 Cycling and walking in cities (Southend-on-Sea Borough Council) 17 Empowering patients in self-management of cancer (University of Bedfordshire) 17 Citizen-centred App for people with mild dementia and their carers 17 (Anglia Ruskin University, South Essex NHS Foundation Trust) 6. Spotlight on civil society 18 Supporting integration in frontline health and local authority services 18 (East of England Strategic Migration Partnership) Training and Volunteering (Dacorum Community Action, Hertfordshire) 18 Mentoring and Social Inclusion (Kaleidoscope Enterprise, Hertfordshire) 19 Heritage Recycled (Suffolk Mind) 19 4
Spotlight on investment Renewable Energy: Wind Farm The Galloper Wind Farm Ltd will receive 225 million for an offshore wind farm to be constructed 27km from the Suffolk coast. Once operational it will provide 336MW of power from 56 of the world s largest turbines, enough to supply around 336,000 homes. This is the first UK project backed by debt-financing in the form of a loan from the European Investment Bank supported under the EU s European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), also known as the 'Juncker Plan'. The EFSI was established in 2015 by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission better to enable lending and attract private capital into strategic sectors such as renewable energy, digital infrastructure, transport and R&D, as well as financing for SMEs. Overall, a consortium of 12 commercial banks, including the European Investment Bank, the UK's Green Investment Bank, Siemens Financial Services and Macquarie Capital will provide around 1.5 billion for the project, which is to be built by RWE Innogy. The project is set to create over 700 jobs during construction and will support around 100 jobs during operation. School infrastructure The European Investment Bank is supporting the construction of six new secondary schools in Hertfordshire and Luton that will improve education facilities and school life for thousands of children in the East of England. The programme involves the demolition of unused buildings, upgrading existing facilities and the construction of new schools. Construction at the new schools is being supported by a 63.3 million longterm loan, representing around 40% of the overall project cost. The schools include five in Hertfordshire - Kings Langley School, Westfield Academy in Watford; Bishop s Hatfield Girls School, Goffs School in Cheshunt; and Longdean School in Hemel Hempstead - and Stopsley High School in Luton. The schools are part of the second batch of the broader Priority School Building Programme (PSBP). The PSBP was set up to address the needs of the schools most in need of urgent repair. Through the programme, 260 schools will be rebuilt or have their condition needs met by the Education Funding Agency. Debt will be provided by the European Investment Bank and bonds subscribed for by Aviva Annuity UK Limited. The European Investment Bank will provide around 274 million in total for the overall programme. Higher education infrastructure The University of East Anglia was awarded a 47 million loan for its investment programme dedicated to the development and refurbishment of the campus in Norwich. The purpose of the project is to refurbish teaching, research, and supporting facilities and expand the campus by refurbishing adjacent buildings. 5
Ultrafast broadband in rural areas Gigaclear plc is an ultrafast fibre broadband provider. It has been awarded a 25 million loan by the European Investment Bank. Gigaclear is both building networks under its own commercial investment and was the first operator other than BT to secure contracts as part of the government s BDUK programme to bring broadband of at least 24Mbps to 95% of the UK. At the end of 2015 it owned and operated 56 rural fibre networks and currently has 35 under construction - including in Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire and Essex. During 2016 Gigaclear plans to expand its network to at least 40,000 additional properties. This will involve a major investment, one third of which is being financed through the EIB loan. The loan is the maximum available to companies under the InnovFin EU Finance for Innovators. Backed by funds set aside under the EU s current research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, InnovFin supports R&I activities which are riskier and harder to assess than traditional investments, and therefore often face difficulties in accessing finance. InnovFin MidCap Growth Finance offers long term loans, mainly for innovative larger midcaps (up to 3000 employees), but also SMEs and small midcaps. Loans are delivered by the European Investment Bank. Upgrading water and sanitation systems Anglian Water has received support from the European Investment Bank in the order of 660 million for the improvement of waste water supply and treatment infrastructure in East Anglia and the East Midlands. Forming part of the company s capital expenditure programme from 2010-15, the loan addresses the need to upgrade environmental performance and service, and improve reliability. The schemes throughout the service area also promote eco-efficiency through energy recovery from sanitation. in summary the EIB and the UK The European Investment Bank s investments in the UK economy came to 7.8 billion in 2015, the Bank s largest ever investment in the country. For 2015, energy, transport and water claimed 22% and 21% respectively of the total. Another notable beneficiary has been health and education, accounting for 20%. 6
Spotlight on supporting regional development Supporting businesses in renewable energy in the East of England The Enterprise Centre at the University of East Anglia was awarded 6.2 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The building is designed with the environment in mind and as such boasts the latest environmentally friendly technology along with renewable materials. The building is home to the Adapt Low Carbon Group whose focus is to provide local SMEs and businesses with knowledge of environmental awareness. InCrops is part of the Adapt Low Carbon Group of the University of East Anglia. It helps businesses and entrepreneurs in the East of England adopt or develop renewable low carbon products from plants, agriculture and food waste. The project received 1.4 million from the ERDF. This enabled the programme to provide up to 12 hours of free consultancy to all interested businesses. The project has promoted sustainable low carbon energies and fostered economic growth and collaboration between business and research. In total, InCrops has supported 270 businesses and resulted in the creation of 15 new start-ups in the region. Retrofitting homes and supporting SMEs From 2013-2015, Broadland District Council delivered the Growing Green Homes ERDF-funded project. Working in partnership with Wherry Housing Association the council retrofitted social housing properties with occupants remaining in situ, using three different standards (Green Deal, Green Deal plus, and Enerphit). The aim was to achieve 90% energy and carbon emissions reductions per property and to establish the most cost-effective approach. The project engaged 40 businesses in the retrofit market, providing them with support, such as site visits and information dissemination events, to help develop the market for sustainable retrofit in the area. Eight houses in Broadland have been upgraded to such high levels of energy efficiency they are now acting as a national showcase for the low carbon materials and techniques involved. Growing Green Homes has supported local businesses within the energy efficiency industry. Up to 65 small businesses can receive free Green Deal accreditation training and Broadland has partnered with Norfolk Knowledge, a local network of business mentors, to provide 1-to-1 support. 7
Grants and support for SMEs Breckland Council s Grants4Growth 3.3 million ERDF-funded project was a package for SMEs to keep up with demand for clean-technology. It offered free, confidential and impartial support for SMEs, providing practical help and financial assistance to help them improve efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and support the businesses in investing in their own growth. The grants included: Capital grants for investment in technology or processes; efficiency initiatives in the form of waste, water or energy efficiency, and recovery or reduction; investment in technology and processes that reduce the environmental impact. Revenue grants for specialist consultancy and/or support related to the promotion, marketing or mainstreaming of low carbon and environmental goods and services, clean tech and/or green tech. Central Bedfordshire s Innovation Bridge provided free access to business innovation support for SMEs through a partnership between the council and the universities of Bedfordshire and Cranfield until April 2015. The universities provided support for developing a new service or product, mobile platform application creation, action planning and diagnostics, research and consultancy support and specialist workshops. It received 190,000 from the ERDF (2007-2013 programme). Helping people into work Luton Borough Council has awarded funding to The Learning Partnership Bedfordshire and Luton Ltd to continue to work with unemployed over 50s in Luton from 2014-2016. The project is funded by the European Social Fund and Luton Borough Council. Support is provided to enable participants to identify their barriers to work, provide them with the help to overcome these, build their confidence and ultimately help them back into work. The service is flexible and, person-centred and focuses on support and encouragement at all stages of the journey towards employment. The project offers a comprehensive package of employability support delivered through 1-to-1 sessions with a Personal Adviser, group sessions and a Work Club all aimed at building confidence and up-skilling. New facilities at Southwold Harbour Managed by Waveney District Council, Southwold Harbour received an injection of 3.5million through a project which included extensive repairs to the dock wall and new services such as mooring, fuel and shower/toilet facilities, to enhance its existing appeal as a tourist destination. 8
Repairs began in 2011 and included vertical steel piling being positioned in front of the damaged wall. Fishing facilities have also been improved with the addition of a fishing compound with a freezer and lockable storage for fishing equipment. EU programme: European Fisheries Fund EU contribution: 1.2 million Supporting rural development Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity has been awarded over 3 million from the Rural Development Programme for England to set up two LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) in the Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire Claylands and Greensand Ridge areas. A LAG is made up of people from the local community and the local public and private sector. LAGs decide which projects they will fund in their area. This depends on the priorities set out locally, but projects must also support one or more of the programme s priorities. These are to: support micro and small business and farm diversification boost rural tourism increase farm productivity increase forestry productivity provide rural services provide cultural and heritage activities Businesses and communities in the areas will have the opportunity to apply for funding through the programme. Match-funded grants of 10,000 to 80,000 will be available through a competitive process for projects that create jobs and grow the local rural economy. EU programme: Rural Development Programme for England EU contribution to Bedfordshire & Huntingdonshire Claylands: 1.625 million (2015-2020) EU contribution to Greensand Ridge: 1.443 million (2015-2020) Developing low carbon energy investment The Mobilising Local Energy Investment (MLEI) project was an ambitious approach to increasing development of low carbon energy in Cambridgeshire. The project included Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Peterborough City Council and Huntingdonshire District Council. Together these local authorities worked to overcome some of the barriers to delivering renewable energy and energy efficiency projects and creating the right financial and structural environment. MLEI tested how the public sector can intervene to enable investment in projects on a greater scale, at a faster pace and for greater local benefit. Over 3 years the project has: Set up a long-term financial mechanism (Low Carbon Investment Fund or L-CIF) that has identified public sector investment; 9
Established an investment pipeline of energy infrastructure projects; community scale low carbon energy generation and retrofit schemes; Set up appropriate delivery arrangements via an energy services company to deliver low carbon infrastructure using the fund. Through the Investment Fund, MLEI Cambridgeshire has mobilised a programme of energy projects to the value of 15 million. A major success story of the MLEI project in Cambridgeshire is the development and signature of a construction contract for a 12 MW solar farm. The farm will generate enough electricity to service nearly 3,000 households while creating significant revenue for the County. EU programme: Intelligent Energy Europe EU contribution: 838,000 Sharing creative industry experience as an exemplar in Europe Thurrock Council has been chosen to take part in a European project, Culture for Cities and Regions, which is funded by the EU s Creative Europe Programme. The project will: Take stock of existing practices where culture is a key element in urban and regional development strategies; Exchange and promote the transfer of knowledge, to better understand successful cases of cultural investment and to go into the details of policy planning and implementation. One of the first tasks of the project is to identify and develop a catalogue of local and regional case studies where culture is a key element in the local urban and regional development strategy. This will be used to promote peer-to-peer learning and to help local and regional authorities to make more of the positive impacts which investment in culture can have on economic development, social cohesion and urban regeneration. Thurrock was selected for its experience in the High House Production Park, a centre for the creative and cultural industries, used to improve perceptions of the borough, create job opportunities and support business growth. Crucially, it has been instrumental in raising aspirations - particularly among young people. High House was itself supported by ERDF funding. Nature conservation on the Norfolk coast Little Terns - Improving the conservation status of the little tern in the UK through targeted action at the most important colonies. This project aims to protect the status of the little tern sea bird in the UK. Currently, it is thought that there are only 2000 breeding pairs. The project aims to increase the species population and increase the general public s awareness. Blakeney Point on the Norfolk Coast (a National Trust site) is one of 20 important sites for the species which will benefit from EU funding over 5 years. EU programme: LIFE+ EU contribution to project: 1.6 million 10
Spotlight on specific EU funding for innovative SMEs As part of the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, the European Commission has launched its SME Instrument which supports high growth, highly innovative SMEs with global ambition. Such SMEs are actively investing in innovation, and looking to grow. Support is provided in three phases: concept and feasibility assessment; demonstration, market replication, and R&D; commercialisation. SMEs across the UK have been successful in accessing this support. Some examples of beneficiaries in the East of England are:- Equipmake Ltd HiPower - Development of a commercial manufacturing process for a low cost, small footprint, high efficiency fully electric compressor and power controls to fulfil a market need for use in heavy goods vehicles [Norwich] Nexen Lift Trucks Ltd FlexiHyLift - A flexible hybrid forklift that utilizes advanced power technology and electronics to offer high performance and efficiency in both indoor and outdoor applications for the logistics industry [Lowestoft] Solar Polar Stimulating the innovation potential of SMEs for a low carbon energy system LCSAC - Low cost solar absorption cooling [Peterborough] TES Innovative mobile e-government applications by SMEs; TAIS - TES App Issuing Software [near Bedford] ACEDAG Scientific Ltd BioStomy - Development of manufacturing process for a novel multi-layer film comprising of a water-soluble polymer and a bio-compostable polymer to enable flushable ostomy pouches [near Hitchen] Auriplex Smartphone-ANCIH - Smartphone - A new concept in hearing: an interactive real-time embedded audio solution that offers a significant/disruptive change in hearing technology and market [near Cambridge] ProteinLogic Limited Clinical research for the validation of biomarkers and/or diagnostic medical devices ADVANTAGE - ADvanced Validation of A Novel TB Active disease diagnostic to address Global unmet needs: a European consortium approach [Cambridge] 11
Spotlight on working with partners in Europe Project: maximising use of green spaces The Essex County Council-led project MaxiGreen develops the infrastructure and the attractiveness of former brown fields and underused urban green space. The aim is to improve the availability and quality of green spaces near urbanised areas and enhance the awareness about green spaces and engagement by the public. MaxiGreen sees a group of European authorities and organisations working together to improve a collection of green spaces and heritage areas that have been neglected over the years. It is tackling issues such as poor access to the designated green and heritage areas, their negative images, both locally and further afield, and landscapes that have been neglected. The UK projects included are: Essex County Council - South Essex Marshes Southend Borough Council and Essex Wildlife Trust - Living Landscape which will create new interests in participating in skilled Woodland activities, both for local businesses and the community. It was funded through the Interreg 2 Seas Programme which promotes cross-border cooperation between partners from specific areas of France, England, Belgium (Flanders) and The Netherlands. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution: 2.83 million Project: understanding and managing non-native species Norfolk County Council led the collaborative project, RINSE (Reducing the Impacts of Non-native Species in Europe), which worked across borders with nine partners from France, England, Belgium and The Netherlands to share best practice and adopt strategic approaches to tackle the threats posed by invasive non-native species. It sought to improve awareness of the threats posed and develop methods used to address them. The project ran from 2011 for three years, looking across species groups including aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates, birds, fish and land mammals across a range of habitats. RINSE ended in 2014. However, project results are now being taken a step further. SE-FINS (Safeguarding the Environment from Invasive Non-Native Species) draws together expertise from three projects with overlapping interests, including RINSE. SE-FINS focuses on reducing the impact of invasive non-native species on native biodiversity and predicting the impact of new INS that are likely to arrive in the near future. The consortium is conducting a joint update of species and reviews the communication tools that have already been developed, assessing their effectiveness and producing guidance on the most effective methods to communicate the risks and impacts associated with INS to different target audiences. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution: 2.5 million + 0.6 million 12
Project: water management in areas at risk of flood Led by Essex County Council, and including Chelmsford Borough Council as a partner, Floodcom is a project which involves five partners from four countries promoting Positive Water Management in Lowland Areas facing climate change. The aim is to provide an improved outlook for vulnerable communities and to share a set of practical solutions to make flood risk areas safer to live and work in. It also explores how better to engage with local communities. Implementation is through the use of flood alleviation projects in Chelmsford and Antwerp and the modernisation of the water monitoring system in Dunkirk representing different approaches to the problem of lowland flooding associated with climate change. All partners come together to examine and disseminate experiences, as well as exchanges of staff. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution to project: 2.24 million Project: working with communities and businesses to lower emissions Led by Suffolk County Council, the ANSWER project (A North Sea Way to Energy efficient Regions) involved 13 partners from 5 countries (UK, Belgium, Germany, Norway and Sweden). Other UK partners were Ipswich Borough Council, Norfolk County Council, the Environment Agency, and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. ANSWER aimed to deliver real emissions savings in a sustainable way by engaging schools, community groups and SMEs, and assist businesses and communities develop energy-efficient solutions. Among other initiatives, 2,000 Ipswich families pledged to become greener, saving a potential 250,000 in energy bills and 123 tonnes of carbon as part of the Ipswich Green Behaviours Project. The project developed the Suffolk Carbon Charter, an award to encourage business to reduce their energy consumption, and saw the launch of the Climometer - a device to measure and display energy use from a community of any size, whether a school or a whole town. EU programme: Interreg IVA North Sea Programme EU contribution to project: 1.8 million Project: biomethane as an alternative source of energy Norfolk County Council was a partner in the Italian-led BIOMASTER project (Biomethane as an Alternative Source for Transport and Energy Renaissance) bringing together 17 partners from the UK (Norfolk), Sweden, Poland and Italy. This assessed whether biomethane for transport can be an operational and viable alternative. The four regions worked on "waste-to-wheel" partnerships, establishing networks of local stakeholders, and included the production of the Norfolk Farmers Guide to biomethane. EU programme: Intelligent Energy Europe EU contribution to project: 1.5 million 13
Project: road safety for older people Southend-on-Sea Borough Council led the Safer Mobility for Elderly Road Users (SaMERU) project. The aim was to produce recommendations to improve the safety of elderly road users, reduce the risk of injury and improve mobility that could be considered for adoption by national and local highway authorities across Europe. The project looked at elderly car drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists and investigated to what extent they are more susceptible to injury in a collision and whether they drive or ride differently from other groups. The partnership included Lancashire County Council and partners from Spain, Germany France and Italy, including research organisations and local highway authorities. EU programme: Directorate General for Mobility and Transport EU contribution: 1.3 million Project: strengthening the health economy and assistive technology CURA-B was project in which ten partners from France, Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands joined forces in order to strengthen their regional health economies by bridging the gap between SMEs on the one hand and the world of healthcare and social care on the other hand. The project aim was the improvement of wellbeing via assistive technologies, seeking ways to optimise participation of care providers and industry partners offering technology product solutions. It brought together six pilot initiatives and ended in 2014. UK Partners were Suffolk County Council, West Suffolk Hospitals Trust, Health Enterprise East, and Anglia Ruskin University. When CURA-B finished a follow-up cluster project Biz4Age, led by Anglia Ruskin University, brought together two projects: CURA-B and 2 Seas Trade. The aim of the Biz4Age cluster was to improve economic competitiveness by raising awareness of new business opportunities for SMEs through producing innovations that contribute to healthy ageing, thereby improving the quality of life and reducing public expenditure. Three sectors were identified as strategic sources of new business opportunities: Build and Care, Food and Nutrition and Tourism. The eighteen-month project (2014-15) undertook a comparative study of methodologies drawn from different approaches and with different regional assets involved. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution to project: 2.7 million + 0.6 million 14
Project: ICT-based solutions for inter-generational exchange Thurrock Council is a partner in the project ANIMATE - a service for exchanging knowledge and expertise among younger employees/unemployed people and retired people or workers approaching retirement with the objective of making the most of older workers experience. Funded by the EU s Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme, the project brings together partners from Spain, Switzerland and the UK. ANIMATE is an ICT-based project looking at tools and services to enable intergenerational learning and optimise the beneficial effects that meaningful occupation can have on individual health and wellbeing for older people. It provides a cross-generation community-based service exchange system where companies employing qualified older adults can offer workshops and learning experiences to the younger personnel of other companies. Animate is also exploring the potential for Google Glass to support experiential learning in different care settings to address complex behaviour issues caused by conditions including dementia. Thurrock will take the lead in planning user involvement throughout the project, which started in 2014 and will last three years. EU programme: Ambient Assisted Living Joint Programme (now called the Active and Assisted Living Joint Programme) Joint Programme contribution: 1.17 million Project: developing an autonomous and intelligent wheelchair The University of Essex was a partner in the project SYSIASS (Autonomous and Intelligent Healthcare System) 2010-14 which developed an intelligent wheelchair, demonstrating how ICT can help improve healthcare systems and social inclusion. The wheelchair can either be controlled by the patient, or autonomously. In addition, the wheelchair can provide automatically updating healthcare-related data, allowing a patient to be monitored while mobile. Following the conclusion of the project, the University continues as a partner in the project EDECT (Empowering Disabled People through Ethics in Care and Technology) which brings together partners from SYSIASS and Dignity In Care (DIC) projects. DIC aims to reinforce the principle of dignity in care and its importance in nursing. EDECT devised a methodological approach for developing assistive technology using existing technologies, tested at pilot sites to ensure it is suitable for cross-border application. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution: 1.23 million + 0.6 million 15
Project: Healthy ageing in the workplace Progress Towards Healthy Ageing in Europe is a two year project funded by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity (PROGRESS). Suffolk County Council led partners from five European countries in identifying innovative ways to promote active and healthy lifestyles. It focused on the 45-68 age range, including both those in employment and people not in employment due to disability, long term health conditions or early retirement. The predominant population will be those currently in employment and who are likely to remain in employment for longer as a result of rising retirement ages across Europe. It shared innovative approaches to improving the health and lifestyle choices of the target group through interventions delivered in the workplace. EU programme: Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity EU contribution: 375,000 Project: Business, innovation and visual design Anglia Ruskin University s project VIVID (Value Increase by Visual Design) 2010-2014 explored themes around Visual Design. The project created a cross-border virtual network in the Visual Design sector, a sector that creatively translates communication into multimedia applications. It covered: The economic benefits of knowledge and research and how design can stimulate economic growth; The role design plays in enhancing business and innovation; The promotion of creative entrepreneurship. A cross-sectoral approach meant education, industry, research and local government worked closely together. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution: 2.87 million 16
Spotlight on collaborative research and innovation Project: cycling and walking in cities Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is working alongside eleven partners from across Europe in the project TRACE which will assess the potential of ICTbased tracking services for the promotion and planning of cycling and walking in cities. The project started in 2015 and will last three years. Specific tools to promote behaviour change and support mobility planning will be tested in eight pilot sites. The three behaviour change tools (Positive Drive, Traffic Snake Game tracking application, Cycle-to-Shop incentives) are aiming to enhance aspects of existing and potential cycling and walking promotion campaigns. Southend-on-Sea will pilot the three tools. In addition, the Tracking for Planning tool will help interpret the most relevant information produced by tracking systems, allowing them to identify and rank issues and monitor specific space and time frames. EU programme: Horizon 2020 programme for Research and Innovation EU contribution to project: 2.9 million Project: empowering patients in self-management of cancer The University of Bedfordshire is a partner in the project imanagecancer (Empowering patients and strengthening self-management in cancer diseases) teams serious games with the latest in self-management technology to empower people living with cancer. The disease is now often managed as a chronic condition and there is an urgent need for patients and families to manage their own care. The project will provide a cancer disease self-management platform designed according to the specific needs of patients and focusing on their wellbeing. Eight partners, including the European Institute of Oncology and Philips, from five European countries are creating intelligent new ways to empower patients and strengthen their capability to manage their diseases through novel health apps and secure ehealth services. EU programme: Horizon 2020 programme for Research and Innovation EU contribution to project: 4.8 million Project: citizen-centred App for people with mild dementia and their carers Anglia Ruskin University is leading the project MIAMI (Medical Intelligence for Assistive Management Interface Mild Dementia). The project is building on an innovative patient-centred support tool to develop a mhealth application that is specifically targeted to patients with mild dementia. Handle My Health aims to help users manage their health and wellbeing through real-time data reporting. The tool will help patients to adhere to their treatment and share data with their carers and doctors, carers will use the same application and share their own well-being with doctors. Among the ten partners from across the EU is South Essex NHS Foundation Trust. EU programme: Horizon 2020 programme for Research and Innovation EU contribution to project: 4.2 million 17
Spotlight on civil society Project: supporting integration in frontline health and local authority services EACH (Embedding Ambassadors in Community Health) was a collaborative project between the East of England Strategic Migration Partnership, the Health Service and community groups, run by and for minority ethnic women in the East of England with a 300,000 grant from European Integration Fund. The project brought representatives from the community groups together with health professionals to improve health outcomes and addressed some of the most challenging areas of work faced by health professionals working with migrant women. The Strategic Migration Partnership subsequently secured more European Integration Fund funding to run a project building on this experience. ACCESS (Acquiring Cultural Competence, Equality and Successful Safeguarding) focused on developing cultural competence in providing frontline services to non-eu migrants by offering interactive workshops. It targeted Local Authority service staff such as Social Care and Housing in particular. Many of the community organisations working on the EACH Project to deliver similar workshops to NHS frontline staff continued to work on this successor project, having gained three years valuable experience of such capacity building. Between September 2014 and June 2015 fifty workshops were run across the East of England over one per week. EU programme: European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Migrants (2007-13) EU contribution: 0.6 million Projects: Training and Volunteering Community Action Dacorum plays an active role in engaging in European project activity. Through these projects it works with a variety of European voluntary sector counterparts and local partners to share knowledge and new ways of working. Just two current examples are: In January 2016, in partnership with Active Future, it received funding under the Erasmus+ programme for a training programme for young people aged 18-30 to come together with young people from different countries and backgrounds to share experiences and exchange and find common solutions to pressing common social challenges like youth unemployment, climate change and active citizenship. It currently runs four senior volunteering projects through the Grundtvig strand of the Lifelong Learning Programme (the precursor to the Erasmus+ programme). The projects send volunteers age 50+ years to volunteer for a 3 week period in partner locations, as well as hosting volunteers in Dacorum. The current projects work with community group partners in France, Bulgaria and Latvia. 18
Projects: Mentoring and Social Inclusion Kaleidoscope Enterprises Ltd is a Welwyn Hatfield charity offering support to community groups, particularly concerning race, ethnicity, culture and discrimination. It has led and partnered in projects funded by the Lifelong Learning Programme: Reintegration of School Age Mothers into Education - participants getting involved in project activity such as transnational meetings and visits and piloting ideas back in their schools or places of work. Community Mentoring for Social Inclusion - A learning partnership of adult education providers, seeking to more effectively engage socially disadvantaged members of communities through the development of best practice in creating and running community mentoring training schemes. This has led to being a partner in a new project funded by Erasmus+: Innovative Quality Mentoring for Social Inclusion led by a Northern Ireland partner, and developing mentors competencies in dealing with diverse learners and making best use of new technologies. Project: Heritage Recycled Suffolk Mind was a partner, with The Churches Conservation Trust, in a 2011-2014 joint project with Belgian partners to share experience and learning on the reuse of heritage assets. Project HERE (Heritage Recycled) aimed to give a new, sustainable future to valuable historic buildings that had lost their traditional use with the goal being to improve marketing of the regeneration of historic buildings and the ability of organisations and communities to reuse and regenerate them. It included projects: St-Nicholas (King's Lynn), St-Lawrence (Norwich), St-Mary at the Quay (Ipswich). The project at St Mary at the Quay in Suffolk contributed to Ipswich Borough Council's regeneration strategy and complement their wider regeneration scheme on the waterfront. One element focused on capital works at St Mary to convert the building into a Health and Wellbeing Centre, while St Laurence s trialled the transformation of the church into a new type of shared space, made and shaped collectively by the community. EU programme: Interreg IVA 2 Seas Programme EU contribution: 0.6 million 19
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Contacts East of England European Partnership Rue du Luxembourg 3, Brussels 1000, Belgium brusselsoffice@east-of-england.eu www.east-of-england.eu +32 (0)2 289 1200 22