London, ESF, VCS, voluntary and community sector, GLA, Mayor of London, Skills Funding Agency, SFA, Big Lottery Fund, European Social Fund, NCVO, LVSC

1. Information and Networking Event for
ESF 2014-20 in London
VCS Assist
4 December 2014 – The Lift, White Lion
Street London
sandra.turner@ncvo.org.uk
www.europeanfundingnetwork.eu

2. Content
1. NCVO European Funding Network
2. Programme Governance and LEP
Engagement
3. Social Inclusion in ESF 2014-2020

3. About us
• Formerly TSEN, at NCVO as EFN since 2011
• National Network of ‘regional’ networks and charities (16 members) with
geographic and thematic coverage
• Supported by ESF Technical assistance to provide :
 Representation, e.g. ESF PMC 2007-13 and sub-committees, Shadow PMC
2014-2020, some ERDF LMCs, some on LEP working groups, task & finish
groups etc.
 Support to the sector & Awareness Raising e.g. events, workshops, websites,
reports, analysis and research
 Contribution to design of ESIF Growth Programme: BIS Secondment, CLLD,
Social Housing and Social Investment, Social Inclusion, Cross Cutting Themes,
Social Inclusion, Volunteer Time as Match Funding, Governance, BIG; continued
input in working groups & lately LEP Sounding Board

4. www.europeanfundingnetwork.eu

5. European Funding Network
Website

6. Key work streams
• Ensuring local reach
• National Representation
• Policy Contributions
• Communication and feedback
….informed by evidence of need gathered since June 2013
(LEP Engagement Project)

7. …the needs we have
identified…
• Awareness raising and capacity building
• Consortia Development
• Support for VCS and LEPs on representation
• Support areas with fractured VCS infrastructure and poor
engagement with LEPs
• Engaging with LEPs
• Consult with the sector
• Complement/add value to PDF activities
• Adapt the EFN to ESIF Programme architecture

8. LEP Engagement Project
 Delivered between Summer 13 to March 14 (prior to changes in governance)
 A snapshot as at 31 March 2014
 Key Objectives:
collecting evidence of sector engagement across 39 LEPs
support the engagement with LEPs and establishing of relationships
Some awareness raising of ESIF opportunities
 Held 2 events in London one with the London Enterprise Panel on governance and
one with the Big Lottery Fund; London Enterprise Panel had good engagement
through LVCS; a VCS rep on the board and the Employment and Skills working
group
 Overall findings:
 26% of the 39 LEPs are engaging very well with the sector and have specific VCSE
communication mechanisms and VCSE representation at board/sub-group level;
 53% of the 39 LEPs have some level of engagement with the VCSE, either through
consultation events or working with one or two representatives from the sector
 Finally, 21 % of the 39 LEPs have very limited or no level of engagement with the
VCSE

9. ESIF 2014-2020: Governance
Where does the VCSE fit in?
• National ESIF Growth Programme Board
– development of the ESIF Growth Programme
– co-ordination with other programmes
– strategic and operational impact and alignment with complementary growth
measures
• Managing authority
– Overseeing application process, ensuring eligibility,
– Claims and payments
– Compliance, Audit and risk responsibility
• Local ESIF Committee (each of the 39 LEPs to have one) introduced in July 2013 to
address European Commission concerns on governance and ensure speedy
adoption of the UK Partnership Agreement

10. LEP AREA Local ESIF Committee
Membership
• LEPs
• Local Authority
• Business partners (including small businesses and social enterprise as
appropriate to the LEP area).
• VCSE
• Equalities and non-discrimination
• Environment (with relevant expertise in e.g. sustainable development)
• Trade Union and employer representation
• Higher Education
• Education, skills & employment (eg Local Skills Partnership Board
/Colleges)
• Managing Authorities for each of the ESIF funds and BIS Local
• European Commission (advisory role)

11. 11
GOVERNANCE ARRANGEMENTS
Projects/Operations
Community Led Local Development,
including Leader and FLAGs
Maritime and
Fisheries
Programme
(EMFF) £118m to
the UK
Rural
Development
Programme
PMC
(EAFRD) £3.3 billion
ESI Funds Growth
Programme Board/PMC
(ERDF, ESF & EAFRD)
£5.8m for ESF & ERDF + £177m EAFRD

12. Social Inclusion
• 20% of ESF = €703m nationally
• Employability & distance travelled
• Role of CLLD (ERDF and ESF)
• Role of civil society:
“Civil Society organisations have a strong track record in reaching, engaging and supporting the
most vulnerable through multi-sectoral partnerships to ensure achievement of positive outcomes
for the socially excluded in terms of employability and ‘distance travelled’.
They will play an important role in the delivery of ESF provision for vulnerable groups, developed
and delivered within local communities themselves and through grass-root approaches.

13. EUROPEAN STRUCTURAL & INVESTMENT FUNDS
October-November LEP Area ESIF Committees set up
LEPs prepare Local Implementation Plans, finalise Opt-ins and CLLD Plans;
EAFRD OP expected to be adopted?
Mid 2015 (???): ESI funds ‘go live’; calls open (operations, opt-ins and
CLLD); Local Growth Fund goes live
Mid to late 2016 projects start spending????
Still to come…
January- February
ESF & ERDF Operational Programmes expected to be adopted????; LEADER
goes live

14. For more information