Sandra Turner (BIS partnership team) discusses the SE Economic plan & EU investment prospectus at the Voluntary sector meeting on 9 September 2013. Find out more about NCVO's european policy work: http://europeanfundingnetwork.eu

1. SE Strategic Economic Plan & EU
Investment Prospectus
Voluntary Sector Meeting
9 September 2013
Sandra Turner
BIS Partnership Team

2. European policy context
• Europe 2020
- focus on Inclusive Growth
- fostering a high employment economy
delivering social and territorial cohesion
- EU headline target: 20 m less people
should be at risk of poverty
- reinforced partnership with civil society
- bottom-up approaches

3. European policy context
• The European Structural and Investment
Funds Programme 2014-2020:
- at least 20% of ESF (ERDF tbc) to focus
social inclusion & combatting poverty
- 80% of ESF on 4 investment priorities
(70% & 60% in transition and less
developed regions)
- a minim share for ESF (50%, 40% &
25%)

4. EC Position Paper for the UK_
Dec 2012
• People @ risk of poverty/exclusion is
going up (from 13.5m in 2007 to 14.2m in
2010;
• Second highest rate of workless
households in Europe (17.3% in 2011)
• Lone parents, those with low skills, ethnic
minorities and those with multiple
disadvantage are all at risk.

5. Country Specific
Recommendations
Jobless households; child poverty; childcare
The ESI funds should support Active
Inclusion:
1.Support employability of the
disadvantaged & vulnerable
2.Support the training of low skilled workers
3.Facilitate access to childcare services

6. What do we mean by ‘Active
Inclusion’?
‘enabling every citizen, notably the most
disadvantaged, to fully participate in society, including
having a job. ‘
How can ESF promote ‘Active Inclusion’?
• integrated pathways combining various forms of
employability measures such as:
individualised support, counselling, guidance, access to
general and vocational education and training, as well as
access to services, notably health and social services,
child care, and internet services.

7. ESF Social Inclusion proposed
Investment Priorities
• (i) Active inclusion with a view to improving
employability (ESF)
• (v) Promoting the social economy and social enterprises (possible to
combine ESF and ERDF)
• (vi) Community-led local development strategies (possible to
combine ESF, ERDF, EAFRD and EMFF)
And…use of volunteer time, simplified cost options, different
mechanisms to access funds from grants (including community
grants), to contracts, direct bidding and social investment

8. Social Inclusion target groups
- People with multiple disadvantage/those furthest from the labour
market
- Lack of or poor basic skills
- Ethnic minorities & migrants
- The Disabled, inc. learning difficulties/mental health problems
- Substance/alcohol abusers
- Lone parents
- The homeless
- Participants from workless households
- Women
- Over 50’s
- Disadvantaged young people
- Carers
- Those leaving care
- Ex-offenders

9. Results
Greater focus on progression….
•Engaged in job search
•In education/training upon leaving
•In employment
•Engaged in positive activities including
volunteering and work experience

10. Match Funding/Delivery
• BIG
• NOMs
• Skills Funding Agency
• DWP?
• Any others?
• CLLD
• Volunteer Time
• Local match

11. Why should we care?
•With the right support all can contribute to
economic growth
•Prevention can save money to public purse
•It is about social cohesion and justice too
•Concentration is not optional

12. Why should the LEP involve the
VCSE
• VCSE work on a daily basis with
disadvantaged target groups/communities
• Great source of social innovation
• It can help the LEP meeting ESI funds
objectives and spend on Social Inclusion
• Partnership is a regulatory requirement