European Social Fund Wendy Knighton Southern England DWP Senior ESF Manager Final Version 03/07/2013 SEG

The European Social Fund (ESF) structural fund was set up to improve employment opportunities in the European Union and so help raise standards of living. It aims to help people fulfil their potential by giving them better skills and better job prospects. ESF seeks to reduce differences in prosperity across the EU and enhance economic and social cohesion. Although ESF funding is spread across the EU, most money goes to those countries and regions where economic development is less advanced. Since 2000, the ESF has supported the EU's goal of increasing employment by giving unemployed and disadvantaged people the training and support they need to enter jobs. ESF also equips the workforce with the skills needed by business in a competitive global economy. What is the European Social Fund?

ESF Objectives The ESF programme has two primary objectives: –The Convergence Objective aims to develop areas where the economy is lagging behind the rest of the European Union. In England, only Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly benefits from ESF funding under the Convergence Objective. –The Regional Competitiveness and Employment Objective covers all areas outside of the 'Convergence' objective. The whole of England is covered by this objective, except Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Within this objective, Merseyside and South Yorkshire benefit from transitional funding as former Objective One regions in

The priorities in the 2007 to 2013 ESF programme are designed to focus ESF spending on specific activities and to ensure that it reaches people in most need of support. There are two main priorities in England: Priority 1 is 'Extending employment opportunities'. It supports projects to tackle the barriers to work faced by unemployed and disadvantaged people and must add value to current domestic Employment Programmes. This is the priority that DWP focuses on. Priority 2 is 'Developing a skilled and adaptable workforce'. It supports projects to train people who do not have basic skills and qualifications needed in the workplace. ESF Priorities

ESF Target Groups In Priority 1, mainly delivered by DWP, resources are focused on helping people who are unemployed or have become inactive in the labour market. In particular, it focuses on people who are most likely to face disadvantage or discrimination. Key target groups include: –people with disabilities and health conditions; –lone parents; –people aged over 50; –ex-offenders and the homeless –people from ethnic minorities; –people without good qualifications; and –young people not in education, employment or training (NEETS) –Families with multiple problems

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 meet the needs of the priority groups. At the regional level, ESF funds are distributed through public agencies, e.g, Skills Funding Agency, NOMS and DWP. These agencies are known as 'Co- financing Organisations'. The role of the Co-Financers is to bring together ESF and domestic funding for employment and skills so that ESF complements domestic programmes. How have the CFOs worked?

How do we deliver ESF? ESF Programmes are delivered by Providers who have tendered for the contracts and who can then employ sub-contractors to meet their contractual obligations. In the first half of the funding round to 2011, provision was delivered by a number of providers, on a district basis. In the second half of the funding round, , delivery is on a CPA basis with one provider delivering in each CPA. The Prime Providers are currently: –CPA8 Skills Training UK (South East including Kent) –CPA9 Twin Training International Ltd (South West) –CPA10 Paragon (Cornwall and Isles of Scilly)

DWP current ESF Programme ESF vulnerable families provision Minimum 2 people in the family Meets worklessness criteria At least one adult on a working age benefit Will have complex needs and experience multiple problems, for example : –Debt; Family conflict; –Antisocial behaviour; Housing problems. Does the individual qualify? From an eligible family Aged 16+, and allowed to work in the EU Not in full time education Not working more than 16 hours per week Not on the Work Programme

Who to contact? Wendy Knighton Senior ESF Manager