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Future of EU Structural Funds in England
The document outlines the European Structural and Investment Funds in England, primarily focusing on the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund, which aim to reduce social and economic disparities. It details the role of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in strategizing, funding, and delivering projects, alongside emphasizing the importance of civil society engagement and community-led initiatives. Additionally, it provides a timeline for guidance and consultations regarding EU investment strategies from 2013.
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Future of EU Structural Funds in England
- 1. European Structural and InvestmentFunds : Future of Structural Funds in England Ingrid Gardiner ESF Effectiveness Manager Ingrid.gardiner@ncvo-vol.org.uk
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- 3. European Structural and InvestmentFunds Introduction to the European Structural and Investment Funds •The Structural and Cohesion Funds are the European Union’s main funding programmes for reducing social and economic disparities across the EU. In England, these funds comprise the: •European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) which supports research, innovation, business development and infrastructure investment •European Social Fund (ESF) which supports training, enhancing access to employment and social inclusion. •It will also include part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and will be aligned with the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). This funding should begin to come on stream in mid-2014.
- 4. European Structural and InvestmentFunds 2007-2013 Programme DWP’s European Social Fund Division (ESFD) is the Managing Authority of the ESF Programme in England and funding is ‘matched’ with UK Government funding. You can also access ESF through one of the Co- financing organisations, including NOMS, and Skills Funding Agency. More information on the European Social Fund in England is available at www.dwp.gov.uk/esf. For information on ESF and civil society, please go to our dedicated European Funding Network website. Above opportunities tendered through PQQ and ITT Community Grants through Grant Co-ordinating Bodies e.g. Tower Hamlets CVS, The Consultancy Home Counties Limited, Surrey Community Action and WEA.
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- 6. European Structural and InvestmentFunds • To re-cap, LEPs are responsible for: • coming up with an investment strategy for spending their allocation • finding projects to deliver that strategy, using a mixture of commissioning, bidding and co-financing as best meets local need • finding match funding for those projects • ensuring those projects deliver their targets • making sure their allocations are spent on time • monitoring how well they are delivering against their strategies and the programme priorities
- 7. Civil Society andLEPs • Engagement with all stakeholders • Building meaningful strategic relationships • Help deliver social inclusion (20%!) • That is not the only offer – civil society sector comes in many different forms – CICs, social enterprises, mutuals and trade unions
- 8. Local focus new opportunities? •Match funding for the sector (e.g. Big Lottery Fund) to complement Growth Programme • Community Led Local Development • Community Grants • Social innovation, social inclusion, social investment, technical assistance and capacity building
- 9. Local focus new opportunities? •What is CLLD? • Modelled on previous Leader approaches (RDPE) • An optional tool for territorial development • Focussed on sub-regional areas (10-150,000 population) • Driven by local communities • Multi-sectoral (public, private and civil society) • Integrated approach single or multi-fund options possible e.g. ESF + ERDF; Leader + ESF + ERDF; EMFF + ESF etc.
- 10. Tasks of LAGs •Local Action Groups (LAGs) select accountable body • Build capacity • Draw up selection criteria • Call for proposals • Selection • Monitoring and evaluation
- 11. Why should LEPs considerworking with the sector • Local communities and business in control of needs of local area and preferred solutions • Opportunity for small scale localised and micro-interventions • Interventions complementary to LEP investment strategies • Builds the capacity of communities to act & work in partnership to respond to economic, social and environmental challenges • Based on co-responsibility and ownership • Networking and cooperation activities • Strong focus on innovation • Long term investment • Benefits of investment stay in community • Concentrated on areas of need
- 12. Timetable Domestic timetable Spring 2013– Guidance to LEPs on EU Investment Strategies issued; UK Partnership Agreement out to formal consultation June 2013 – Final Guidance issued to LEPs September 2013 – Investment Strategies to BIS Partners encouraged to link up with LEPs NOW to develop ‘transformational’ projects.
- 13. Questions? • contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk • dwp.gov.uk •londontenders.org • competefor.com • tenders.ac.uk • bluelight.gov.uk • fundingcentral.org Thank you and remember that this is an opportunity for you… http://www.europeanfundingnetwork.eu Thank you!
Editor's Notes
- #5 This page gives an overview of the following funding streams mostly used by civil society organisations Structural Funds - focusing on the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund Partnership and transnational work Financial instruments and Social busines s European Structural Funds 2007-2013 Generally, the biggest amount of money that comes into England form the EU is via the EU Structural Funds . The Structural and Cohesion Funds are the EU’s main instruments for supporting social and economic restructuring across EU member states. They account for over one third of the European Union budget and are used to tackle regional disparities and support regional development through actions including developing infrastructure and telecommunications, developing human resources and supporting research and development. To see how much money goes into your region see our financial allocationpages on the EFN website. European Social Fund (ESF) ESF is the EU’s main fund designed to help people into work and to invest skills and training of those furthest from the labour market. DWP’s European Social Fund Division (ESFD) is the Managing Authority of the ESF Programme in England and funding is ‘matched’ with UK Government funding. You can also access ESF through one of the Co-financing organisations, including NOMS , and Skills Funding Agency . More information on the European Social Fund in England is available at www.dwp.gov.uk/esf . For information on ESF and civil society, please go to our dedicated European Funding Netw ork website. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) ERDF is focused on reducing economic disparities within and between member states by supporting economic regeneration and safeguarding jobs. The Managing Authority of the fund in England is the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). For information on the programme visit the DCLG website . We are in the last 2 years of the Structural funds programme. Negotiations on the 2014-2020 programme are already taking place. If you would like more information on the latest developments, please go to our European Funding Network website . Partnership and transnational These European Community programme are awarded to implement projects or activities in relation to EU policies within fields as diverse as research, education, health, consumer protection, protection of the environment etc. Amongst these opportunities are programmes such as Europe for Citizens This programme is designed to bring Europe closer to its citizens, promote active EU citizenship, and mutual understanding between citizens in different countries. Funding opportunities are listed on the European Commission website . PROGRESS PROGRESS is an integrated programme for employment and social solidarity to support the EU’s approach to employment and social affairs. Current call for proposals can be found on the PROGRESS website . DAPHNE DAPHNE is aimed at protecting vulnerable citizens from violence and protecting children’s rights. If your organisation is interested in applying for DAPHNE funding, view their on-line toolkit with resources including an archive of successful projects. Lifelong learning and vocational training Funding for UK individuals to visit other European countries for training courses, job shadowing, work placements, and develop partnership with organisations in Europe. Examples of Programmes:- Grundtvig (adult education) and Leonardo (vocational education and training). Youth in Action Youth in action is a programme that aims to inspire a sense of active European citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future. The national agency responsible for Youth in Action in the UK is the British Council. Find out more on the British Council website . Culture Programme This programme funds projects that encourage intercultural dialogue, promote cross-border mobility of those working in the sector and and enhance cultural output and is available for not for profit organisations. Details of opportunities are available on the UK’s Cultural Contact Point website . Environment Life + supports environmental and nature conservation projects. Priorities include biodiversity, environment policy and information and communication. Research and Innovation The two main funding sources of the EU’s research and innovation programme, are the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7) and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). There are also opportunities to fund research and innovation through the Structural Funds. Sport Since the Lisbon Treaty gave the EU a competence on sport, there has been a focus on creating an EU programme for sport. Among the priorities will be encouraging volunteering in sport, and promoting social inclusion. Find out more on the European Commission’s sport section. Match funding EU funds only cover a part of a projects’ costs so the rest of the funds need to be secured by 'matching it'' through EU public or private funding. Match funding is usually the responsibility of the applicant and all match funding will need to be evidenced. State Aid Any money given out by public bodies may constitute state aid. It is therefore important to be aware that there are strict rules designed to ensure EU competition and free trade rules are not breached. For more information on this, visit our State Aid Pages on the EFN website. Financial instruments There is funding available in the forms of European Investment Bank loans, guarantees and investment to support SME’s (JEREMIE) and for sustainable urban development (JESSICA). The Commission’s new Social Business Initiative will help start up schemes to access EU funding from 2014 onwards. The 90million Euros fund has been created to stimulate an EU wide Social Investment market. For more information see NCVO policy pages on Social Business.
- #6 An “EU Growth Programme” to be financed by ERDF and ESF with a contribution from EAFRD A single “EU Growth Programme Board” incorporating a joint Programme Managing Committee for ESF and ERDF LEPs to be the fundamental building blocks receiving a 7 year notional allocation subject to periodic performance reviews LEPs to identify their preferred EU investment prospectus as part of their wider growth strategy, for agreement by the Growth Board. LEPs will not take on project delivery accountabilities, however but retain a strategic oversight role in cooperation with local partners. Government departmental teams to work as “CSF Area Growth Teams” to support LEPs in their strategic role. All final funding decisions to be dependant upon due diligence by fund Managing Authorities. National co-financing initiatives to take account of local needs ‘ ITIs’ may be an option in a limited number of places - where this arrangement will deliver better value, higher impact results. innovation, research and technological development support for small businesses the low carbon economy skills employment social inclusion
- #8 The role of civil society with LEPs engagement with all stakeholders, including social partners, must form an integral part of the prioritisation and investment of EU funding. Building meaningful strategic relationships with Civil Society organisations adds significant value to the strategic analysis, planning and effective delivery of EU funding within the LEP area. We would like to take this opportunity to outline the support available through Civil Society in delivering this new and exciting element of LEP strategic development. The VCS is capable of providing a vital multi-level support and delivery function to LEPs from both a cross sector and partnership delivery perspective as well as in relation to specific thematic Partnership Groups that will be required as part of their strategic development and delivery role. In relation to engagement with economic development and structures both the European Commission and the UK government refer to the VCS as forming part of ‘Civil Society’; encapsulating what we might consider previously as the ‘third sector’ and including co-operatives, CICs / social enterprises, mutuals and trade unions.
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- #11 ST LAGS select accountable body from structure or create a Legally constituted common structure Build the capacity of local actors to develop and implement operations Drawing up selection procedures Making calls for proposals Selection of proposals Monitoring and evaluation
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