European Funding in The North West CVS Cheshire East April 22nd 2009 John Hacking Senior European Officer
Todays Presentation Background to the funds European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grants (CG) Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) Other EU Funds
About North West Network NWN represents the interests of Third Sector (Voluntary and Community) organisations in the region in relation to European funding programmes at regional, national and European levels Our aim is to increase the take up of European funding by the Third sector in the North West region of England We also aim to promote and assist the Third Sector to network and develop partnerships at local, regional, national and European levels
Which Are You? Experienced EU fund users who want to know about new and current opportunities People who think they might be interested now or in the future but need more help and information People who will never use EU funds
Context (European Level) EU growth since 1956 6 to 12 to 15 to 25 to 27 to?? Impact? re-focus of money from last programme to accession countries. The future post 2013??
Context European Level Lisbon Agenda Its aim is to make the EU "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, and respect for the environment by 2010" More jobs, better jobs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/lisbon_strategy http://europa.eu/scadplus/glossary/lisbon_strategy_en.htm National Level Increase growth via employment and productivity Despite good macroeconomic performance, address any regional disparities and low employment and skills Reduce gaps in growth rates between regions and stretch employment and skills targets www.erdf.communities.gov.uk/whatiserdf/117735
Regional Level (NW) Major challenges in the North West in relation to workless and economic activity rates - 80,000 additional workers to achieve UK norms Alignment of ESF to other mainstream investment in skills NEET is persistent and challenging Reduced ESF funding results in a very targeted approach to the ESF programme
BUT!!
Changing Economic Environment EU Programmes based on continuing employment growth Challenges posed by redundancies Challenges posed by reducing job market Challenges posed by changing job market
What are the Main European Funds?
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Broad Description at EU Level ERDF - The ERDF aims to strengthen economic and social cohesion in the European Union by correcting imbalances between its regions. The EU says that ERDF funds: Direct aid to investments in companies (in particular SMEs) to create sustainable jobs; Infrastructures linked notably to research and innovation, telecommunications, environment, energy and transport; Financial instruments (capital risk funds, local development funds, etc.) to support regional and local development and to foster cooperation between towns and regions; More here http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/feder/index_en.htm
European Social Fund (ESF) Broad Description at EU Level ESF - Provides financial support for vocational training schemes, guidance and counselling projects, job creation measures and other steps to improve the employability and skills of both employed and unemployed people adapting workers and enterprises: lifelong learning schemes, designing and spreading innovative working organisations; access to employment for job seekers, the unemployed, women and migrants; social integration of disadvantaged people and combating discrimination in the job market; strengthening human capital by reforming education systems and setting up a network of teaching establishments. More here http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/funds/fse/index_en.htm
Put extremely simply! ERDF is about creating jobs ESF is about getting people into them
European Funds 2007-13
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
ERDF ERDF is used to provide help in the form of grants, loans, or venture capital. As a general rule the EU contributes no more than 50 per cent of the eligible cost. The remainder of the funding, known as 'match funding', comes from other sources such as the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), local authorities, other Government schemes, other public bodies and/or the private sector. The ERDF programme is not geographically restricted although targeting is part of the rationale.
Opportunities to access ERDF The ERDF programme in the NW is managed by the North West Development Agency. The ERDF programme enhances and supports the competitiveness of the Northwest economy and supports the EU Growth and Jobs agenda and the Northwest Regional Economic Strategy. (RES) The programme will also support the creation of the right conditions of growth and employment and enterprise in local areas for local people.
Opportunities to access ERDF (cont..) The NWDA outline 3 ways to bid Open Calls Over the life of NWOP, the NWDA European Programme Executive will formally call for project proposals to come forward. For each call, the Investment Frameworks will clearly set out the nature of the activity covered by the call, together with the required outcomes, outputs and impacts expected from investment. Limited Bidding Limited bidding is similar to open calls, except that the organisations eligible to bid for direct funding are limited to those outlined in the relevant Investment Framework. Non-Competitive Selection The Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC), Regional Partners and the European Commission have agreed the use of non-competitive selection for a limited number of projects identified in NWOP -
Opportunities to access ERDF through sub-contracting to larger partners or contract/project holders. For more information about this in Cheshire it is important to contact the Sub Regional Partner in the ERDF programme for Cheshire and that is Cheshire and Warrington Economic Alliance (CWEA)
www.erdfnw.co.uk
www.nwnetwork.org.uk
European Social Fund (ESF)
ESF The ESF Programme is based on two main Priorities Priority 1 Extending employment opportunities Priority 2 Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce Priority 1 - Extending Employment Opportunities: The objective of Priority 1 is to increase employment and to reduce unemployment and inactivity. It will help to tackle barriers to work faced by disadvantaged groups such as people with disabilities and health conditions, lone parents and other disadvantaged parents, older workers, ethnic minorities, and people with no or low qualifications. It will also aim to reduce the numbers of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET).
ESF Priority 2 - Developing a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce: The objective of Priority 2 is to develop a skilled and adaptable workforce by; reducing the number of people without basic skills; increasing the number of people qualified to level 2 and, where justified, to level 3; reducing gender segregation in the workforce developing managers and workers in small enterprises. There will be a particular focus on the low skilled.
www.esf.gov.uk
www.esf-works.com
ESF Project Examples www.esf-works.com/index.php?option=com_objects&view=projects&itemid=55
ESF E-zine http://www.esf.gov.uk/_docs/esf_ezine_issue_15.pdf
Management arrangements for the ESF The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has overall responsibility for ESF funds in England. DWP manages the England ESF programme at a national level and liaises with the European Commission in Brussels. Each region has its own ESF allocation to fund projects to address its regional jobs and skills needs, within the framework of the two priorities in the England ESF programme. At the regional level, ESF funds are distributed through public agencies such as the Learning and Skills Council and DWP. These agencies are known as 'Co-financing Organisations'. The Co-financing Organisations contract with the organisations or 'providers' that deliver ESF projects on the ground. There are 3 CFOs in the NW Skills Funding Agency (Used to be LSC) JCP/DWP NOMS (National Offender Management Service) More about Co-Financing here www.nwnetwork.org.uk/co-financing-1
Opportunities to access ESF Funds Through Co-Financing Organisations: DWP/JCP Prime Contracting Mainly through sub contracting SFA Lead contract and sub contract (Note Lead contractors need Pre-Qualification Questionnaire -PQQ) NOMS (details not yet available in details. For more info contact NWN or visit www.noms.homeoffice.gov.uk or: Community Grants
Changes to the LSC From March 31 st 2010 the LSC ceased to exist. It s functions are now undertaken by two new bodies: 1. For young people there will be a new national Non Departmental Public Body, the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) with some regional capacity, which will support local authorities in their new role in commissioning and funding 14-19 provision. Local capacity on 14-19 will therefore, as expected, be with Local Authorities. 2. For adults there will be a new Skills Funding Agency (SFA), again with some regional capacity, which will oversee the distribution of funds to the sector and manage the performance of FE colleges. The Agency will also house the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS), the National Employer Service, and the Adult Careers and Advancement Agency.
More Info About The New Agencies http://skillsfundingagency.bis.gov.uk/
Skills Funding Agency Co-Financing Plan (CFP) Currently being produced Planned to have Iinvitation to Tender (ITT) round later in 2010 (probably August/September) To view the (as yet draft) CFP go to : www.nwnetwork.org.uk/files/files/ding_agency_nw_esf_ CFP_2011-2013_V3_March_22.pdf
Community Grants The European Social Fund (ESF) has made this programme available to Voluntary Community and Faith Sector organisations to support disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people to progress towards employment particularly from the following groups: People with disabilities and health conditions (including mental ill health) Lone Parents People aged 50 and over People from ethnic minorities Females
The programme is managed in Cheshire by Learning Together Cheshire and Warrington The programme is currently fully allocated but LTC&W anticipate running the ESF Community Grants programme again in Cheshire from Jan 2011 6 successful application rounds were held and the panel met: 4/9/08,27/11/08, 26/03/09, 23/07/09, 26/11/0 and 24/3/10 to consider applications.
Contact Details for LTC&W The Annexe, The Old Coach House, 8 Garden Lane, Chester, CH1 4EN. Tel: 01244 320528 website: www.learning-together.co.uk email: admin@learning-together.co.uk
Community Grants DVD www.nwnetwork.org.uk
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is jointly funded by the Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development. It was launched in 2008 and will run until 2013. Along with Natural England and the Forestry Commission, the NWDA is responsible for delivering RDPE in the Northwest. The RDPE covers three delivery axes - Axis 1 and Axis 3 are delivered by the NWDA. ( 75m) Axis 1: Improving the Competitiveness of the Farming & Forestry Sector Axis 2: Conserving & Enhancing the Environment & Countryside ( 299m)
RDPE Delivery in the NW Sub-Regional Partnerships The Northwest has five rural Sub-Regional Partnerships: Cheshire and Warrington Rural Partnership For more information go here - http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/ruraldevelopment/community_investment/cheshire+and+w arrington+rural+partnership.htm It is link to old Cheshire. No new link given but email contact is - filip.prevc@cheshire.gov.uk Commission for the New Economy (Manchester) Cumbria Partners Integrated Countryside & Environment Plan (Merseyside) Lancashire Economic Partnership
Other EU Funds How to find out about other funds Google (confusing) Websites can be useful (though often out of date and country/theme specific) Contact North West Network (or your regional equivalent) let us help.
www.europa.eu
www.welcomeeurope.com
Get in touch! PROJECT DEVELOPMENT TRAINING SEMINARS HELP TO LOCATE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TECHNICAL SUPPORT APPLICATION SOFTWARE BID IMPROVEMENT SERVICE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TELEPHONE ADVICE LINE 0161 236 6493 FAX SERVICE 0161 228 6137 E-MAIL SERVICE info@nwnetwork.org.uk WEBSITE www.nwnetwork.org.uk
Thank you