The presentation was a workshop at NCVO's European Funding Network's event LEPs, Growth and EU funds on Wednesday 25 September 2013. The presentation was by John Hacking from Network for Europe and looks at ESF Community grants. Find out more about the event 'LEPs, Growth and EU funds': http://europeanfundingnetwork.eu/events/engaging-with-your-leps Find out more about NCVO's European Funding network: http://europeanfundingnetwork.eu/A

1. ESF COMMUNITY
GRANTS
CURRENTAND FUTURE
John Hacking
Network for Europe

2. Current ESF Community Grants Programme
2007 - 13
• ESF community grants are grants of up to £12,000 which
enable small VCS organisations to work with most
disadvantaged and excluded people.
• The grants have a local focus and seek to move people
closer to the labour market.

3. They support a wide range of activities including:
• initial help with basic skills
• taster work experience, including voluntary work
• training, advice and counselling
• confidence building.

4. Target Groups
• People with disabilities or health conditions (inc. those with learning
difficulties, mental health issues or drug and alcohol dependency
problems)
• People aged 50 or over and seeking employment
• People from ethnic minorities
• Women
• Lone parents

5. • Because of the nature of the target groups, project
outcomes involve progression towards a job or further
training, rather than the immediate achievement of a
job or qualification.
• With the exception of London, the Skills Funding
Agency has responsibility for Community Grants.
• CGs are delivered locally through Grant Co-ordinating
bodies (GCBs)

6. • Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly Cornwall Development
Company Ltd
• East Midlands Nottingham and Nottinghamshire VCS
Learning and Skills Consortium
• East of England The Consultancy Home Counties Ltd
• London London Councils
• North East County Durham Community Federation
• North West WEA: Learning For Life
• South East Surrey Community Action
• South West The Learning Curve
• W Midlands Black Country Consortium Ltd
• W Midlands Heart of England Community Foundation
• Yorks & The Humber Humber Learning Consortium

7. Community Grants in The NW
• GCB in NW 2011-13 is the WEA.
• GCB Role:
Develop & manage a Community Grants Programme.
Engage key stakeholders in the delivery model.
Develop & publicise an application process.
Receive , assess and select applications for grants and
provide support to grant recipients.
Monitor & evaluate outcomes & performance.

8. Evaluation of NW CGs 2011-13
165 grants allocated
3575 participants
£11,115 average grant award in NW

9. Projects
21%
38% 17%
62%
37%
People with
disabilities
People over 50
People from ethnic
minority background
Lone parents
Female

10. Participants

11. Participant Progression
243
205
81
260
125
12
315
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Further informal learning
Accredited learning
Work experience or placement
Volunteering
Job
Self-employment/own business/CIC/social enterprise
Unknown

12. Case Studies
Northmoor Community Assoc. (Manchester)
• Training & building confidence in participants to progress
and engage with employment opportunities.
• Increasing migrants' participation in employment.
• Developing lifelong learning
• £12,000

13. Restore Rochdale Enterprise Skills
• Practical advice and support from local entrepreneurs
inspiring local women to become self-employed.
• Supporting self employment and new businesses.
• £11,085

14. • 3tc Cloud Computing Course (Merseyside)
• A blended learning approach, enhanced by peer
support, enabling participants to acquire and apply basic
IT skills
• Promoting education and training throughout working life
•
• Improving equal access to employment
• Developing lifelong learning
• £12,000

15. Power Up (Wolverhampton)
• Training tailored to the needs of ethnic minority women
• Working through local community networks, the project
reached individuals who are furthest away from the labour
market, improving their employability and confidence.
• £11,700

16. Wyldwoods (Shropshire)
• Working towards employability: Unlocking the potential of
disabled people.
• Wyldwoods received an ESF community grant to deliver a
rural training project.
• The project aimed to empower the individual through
developing skills, improved self-understanding, value and
responsibility in preparation for employment.
• £12,000

17. Rise 2 the Top! (Birmingham)
• Helping young people develop their business, self-
development and media skills to start their own
business, gain employment, or go into further
education
• £10,387

18. The Future
• BIS Guidance to LEPs June 2013
• One reference to “Supporting local ‘Community Grant’
type activity. “ (p.43)
• No mention in any of the six 1st wave Opt In Prospectuses

19. QUESTIONS
• Do LEPs want a Community Grant Programme?
• Will there be a programme in the English ESF OP anyway?
• How do LEPs achieve a CG programme in their EIS Strategies
• What form would it take?
• Scale/Reach?