Current and future European funding VSNW Annual Conference 22 November 2012 Presenting: Angeliki Stogia Chair: John Hacking

Workshop aims European Structural funds in the North West Funding priorities and current opportunities to access How voluntary and community sector organisations engage with the programme Provide an overview of emerging priorities for EU funds in the new programme Provide you with an opportunity to feed in ideas on where the EU programmes should focus in the future

Nestac Costume Making Empowers immigrants by providing professional training in costume-making, while also promoting education, health and wellbeing Student Individual Learning Plans indicate most (60%) are looking at registering for further education following the training; 30% are looking at developing employability skills through volunteering opportunities while the remaining 10% would like to be involved in children activities to learn more about UK laws in regards with children.

Greenways to work Employment skills training for “green employment” to maximise opportunities available due to the effects of climate change Initially set out to address the issue of tenants experiencing fuel poverty providing IAG on increasing energy efficiency of their housing stock to their tenants. Working with partners to carry out another broad set of activities ranging from awareness raising in energy efficiency among planners and architects, through to provision of training to local people in energy efficiency technologies

ERDF supports regional development though actions such as business innovation and support and regeneration. It finances investment to create sustainable jobs, infrastructure linked to research and innovation, environment, communications, energy and transport and financial instruments (capital risk funds, local development funds) that support regional and local development Priority 1: Stimulating Enterprise and Supporting growth in target sectors and markets Priority 2: Exploiting innovation and knowledge Priority 3: Creating the conditions for sustainable growth Priority 4: Growing and accessing employment European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

7 ERDF Programme Changes - NWDA closed, ERDF staff transferred to CLG Committee changes, LEPs – New strategy sub-committee Programme Reviewed – Money committed/Expected spend/ Outputs, Results and Impacts New bidding Priority 1: Support for Business Incubator Units (North West excluding Merseyside) Priority 1.3: Increasing SME's Sustainable Consumption & Production and activity in the Low Carbon Environmental Goods and Services Sector (North West excluding Merseyside) Priority 4 Call for project applications proposing the Provision of Managed Workspaces (North West excluding Merseyside)

Accessing ERDF ERDF is accessed through the department of Communities and Local Government Minimum ERDF levels of funding Projects are subject to a two stage application process: – Stage 1: Outline Application - deliverability test and outline assessment – Stage 2: Full application - detailed technical appraisal LEP endorsement is required Tight timescales – 10 Dec, 5 Dec, 14 December

European Social Fund ESF aims to improve employment opportunities in the European Union by providing financial support towards the running costs of 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 Priority 1: Extending Employment Opportunities: to increase employment and to reduce unemployment and inactivity Priority 2: Developing a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce: reducing the number of people without basic skills, developing managers and workers in small enterprises

Accessing ESF ESF is accessed through Co-financing organisations Co-financing means channelling ESF and the required match funding to providers in a single stream Organisations which do this are called Co-financing organisations

Accessing ESF in the North West There are three Co-financing organisation in the North West: Skills Funding Agency aims to improve the employability and skills of employed and unemployed people by supporting education and vocational training schemes and learning for the 19+ (and Young People’s Learning Agency) Jobcentre Plus/DWP supports disadvantaged people claiming incapacity benefit or Income Support through voluntary participation in the work programme and provides targeted support to tackle workessness in families with multiple problems National Offender Management Service (NOMS) aims to enhance the employability prospects of offenders by bridging the existing gaps between offenders and mainstream education, skills and employment services before, during and after release from custody

Accessing ESF in the North West Procurement mechanisms Skills Funding Agency procures funds through an online procurement portal after organisations have successfully registered with the Register of Training Organisations Register (the Register) operating the lead contractor model Jobcentre Plus/DWP procures funds to organisations on the Employment Related Support Services Network, operating the prime contracting model National Offender Management Service (NOMS) procures funds through the prime contracting model

ESF SFA imminent round Forthcoming tenders on Priority 2 aimed at enhancing the skills of the existing workforce SFA seeks to reduce underperformance in the remaining period of the programme in the number of participants without basic skills; without level 2; those with a learning difficulty and/or disability and those who will gain a basic skills as a result of ESF support Registration with Register of Training OrganisationsRegister of Training Organisations The Agency and the National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) are developing an enhanced approach to the procurement of this provision, to ensure that successful providers are best placed to address local skills needs. That will include a broader specification and closer working arrangements with LEPs and Core Cities, and an expectation that providers may want to develop collaborative or other networks to ensure successful delivery

European Social Fund: Small Grants Community Grants - Helping people access the labour market Supporting a range of activities aim at assisting the disadvantaged or excluded to move closer to the labour market, focusing on individuals who have difficulty accessing ESF or mainstream provision outcomes Based on progression rather than achievement of jobs or qualifications Activities include first contact engagement, confidence building, help with basic skills, taster work experience, training, advice, counselling, jobsearch Grants up to £12K accessed through simplified application arrangements, available to voluntary sector groups who would not otherwise be able to access ESF. Grants accessed through Community Grants Coordinating Bodies

Community Learning Grants Round 3 launched: Round 3 launched preference given to organisations with a turnover of no more than £300,000 per year in each of the last 2 years Closing date for this round is 17 January 2013 Merseyside pot oversubscribed – no funding available but project proposals from Halton, Manchester, Cheshire and Cumbria are welcome Further information: Workers’ Educational AssociationWorkers’ Educational Association

Requirements for accessing EU funds You will need to demonstrate Quality standards Capacity & Capability to deliver Track record You will most likely access as Lead contractor Sub-contractor / second level subcontractor Contract holder for smaller grants - ESF Community Grants

European Social Fund

Operating context High demand on services Media scrutiny Public spending reductions Technology Increased competition Financial Crisis Direct purchasing of services

Europe 2020 Smart Sustainable Inclusive Smart Sustainable Inclusive

General Regulations ESF ERDF Cohesion Fund European Grouping for Territorial Cohesion The draft Regulations

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Community-led Local Development Integrated and multi-sectoral area-based local development strategies Designed taking into consideration local needs and potential Can be funded by ESF and ERDF together Can be 10% higher intervention rate Description of the process of community involvement in the development of the strategy Local Action Groups – Build Capacity of local actors – Transparent Selection – Monitor and Evaluate

New Programme Less money for the UK the amount of funding for the UK is likely to fall, greater proportion of funding earmarked for poorer areas, however, increasing share of ESF to 25% of Cohesion funds Alignment with EU 2020 these objectives include raising the employment rate, tackling poverty, improving access to education, investing more money on research and development, using energy more efficiently and promoting clean technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions Focusing resources on a small number of priorities four thematic priorities currently being proposed: promoting employment, investing in skills and lifelong learning, fight against poverty and efficient public administration and institutional capacity ESF to return to a more social inclusion approach, with less focus on job outcomes

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European Structural Funds Simplification proposals to simplify, speed up and improve administration and delivery, requiring member states to commit to radical simplification Coordinated spending aiming to bring greater coherence between funds and simplification of rules for each fund making it easier to put together projects that package support for more than one fund Strengthening partnerships increasing the involvement of local and regional stakeholders, social partners and civil organisations in the implementation of operational programme. Encouraging spread of community led local development approaches based on partnerships among various relevant stakeholders

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Current VCS issues Working with OCS Strategic Partners Euclid Network – Working with Commission - Social Business Initiative, Social Innovation, Financial Instruments NCVO – ESF, new central Co-Financer for VCS? – Role for regions, local areas, Community-Led, Inclusion Identifying substantial match funding for the Sector Financial Instruments – Big Society Capital and others – Contract Readiness, Asset Based Developments, Cashflow, MicroCredits, Social Impact Bonds

Decision levels European Commission – Regulations – Finance – Partnership Principles Member State – Partnership – Operational Programmes Local Partners – Working together – Delivering change

Next Steps - Europe Council meeting 22 and 23 November (and 24, 25?) – Agreement on MFF??? (seven year budget) – A third of this is Cohesion Funds If agreed, move to agreeing Regulations Partnership Agreements with Member States Operational Programmes

Next Steps- England BIS leading on English Proposals (with DWP, CLG) – Secondment Team 2-3 weeks time - draft structure to be signed off by Ministers How much central, how much local? Roadshows across England (21 Nov - 17 December) Spring - Consultation on Partnership Preparations of Operational Programmes

Key Messages ESF, ERDF, EAFRD, EMFF working together and multi-fund Simplification - focus on outputs and results – Flat Rates, Lump Sums, Proportionality – Clearer rules Place based, transition areas and city regions – Integrated Territorial Investments – Community-led local development – Joint Action Plans - results based management

EU Reference Group Develop knowledge and intelligence in the Voluntary Sector about European Funds Draw of experience gained in the current EU funding programme to inform the development of the new funds Enable information to be shared and cascaded through the Voluntary Sector Build capacity of individuals and organisations to prepare for involvement in the new programmes Give individuals the knowledge and information to enable them to participate in the governance and representation roles in the new EU funding programmes Contact

Questions ?

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