Wales and Third Sector EU Funding

Government of Wales Act 1998 sets out the National Assembly’s legal obligations to the sector and how it proposes, in the exercise of its functions, to promote the interests of relevant voluntary sector organisations:

The third sector has secured £251.5 million It received 821 grants It created of at least 3,477 gross new direct jobs and at least 80 new indirect jobs It trained 19,000 participants and 200 trainers Objective

Strong links to Welsh Assembly Government policies and strategies More strategic approach to implementation Reduce no. of projects from 3,000 approved in the current round to around 500 through: Requirement that all EU-funded “delivery” work to be offered through open tender and procurement process Programmes

Solutions As a result of this activity WCVA proposed and developed a number of key Third Sector Projects WCVA Third Sector European Team (3- SET) Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) Project Communities Investment Fund (CIF) Engagement Gateway

Set up to enable small organisations to contribute to the programmes A flexible approach to achieving outcomes and an opportunity for innovation To contract with organisations that engage with economically inactive people and prepare them for sustainable employment To make a significant contribution to raising levels of employment and reducing economic inactivity in Wales The Engagement Gateway

By providing access to three levels of ESF funding from less than £25,000 to £150,000 via tendering / procurement processes Provide a supportive approach to those that may be new to tendering for services Allow organisations sufficient time for planning, decision making and drafting proposals Make decisions based on best overall value for money as opposed to lowest price The Engagement Gateway

The Gateway currently has 330 members on its Approved Supplier list The total project activity available is £27 million (inc match funding) across both Convergence and RCE, The team has assessed 694 PQQs, 331 tenders and awarded 152 contracts To date £15 million has been allocated. Progress to date

Building on experience with the Intermediate Labour Market WCVA has successfully Delivered 2100 Future Jobs Placements Combined FJF and the ILM schemes to provide month placements; Rolling out 12 Pilot ILMs focussed on year olds Working with a range of potential Work Programme prime contractors in their development of their programmes Further Developments