ESF Community Learning Grants in the North West

Information Event: Manchester 13 February 2014

ESF Community Learning Grants in the North West

Welcome & IntroductionsOBJECTIVES: what we will cover in next hour:

•European Social Fund – John Hacking•ESF Community Grants – Ian McHugh•Application Process – Alycia Hanson•Advice & Support from Locality – Anton Schultz•Experience of Funded Projects•Opportunity for Questions

ESF Community Learning Grants in the North West

Ian McHughProject Manager, WEA (Grant Coordinating Body)February 2014

What is WEA?

WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION National charity with committee democratically

elected by members- established in 1903. UK’s largest voluntary adult educational provider Each year we run over 10,000 courses with over

100,000 enrolments. We deliver all our courses through community

partnerships. Our NW region – Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire,

Merseyside and Greater Manchester with offices in Manchester, Liverpool & Workington.

What is ESF?

European Social Fund - 2 main priorities1) extending employment opportunities: helping those furthest from labour market to get into work2) developing a skilled and adaptable workforce: improving skills and productivity of those in work

WEA role as ESF Grant Coordinating Body

Develop & manage ESF Community Grants Programme in NW on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)

In partnership with Locality, VOLA & Community Matters

Develop & publicise application process: ensure programme supports and reaches the communities and individuals who most need it

ESF Community Learning Grants

Grants of between £1,000 - £13,500 To support some of the hardest to reach

communities and individuals To help people access further learning or

training that could lead to employment Available from January 2014 until July 2015,

with 3 funding rounds Merseyside - £728,000 (£266,000 2012-13) Rest of NorthWest - £2,860,000 (£1,482,000)

Who benefits?

Unemployed individuals – access to learning and support that improves employability (progression towards the labour market)

Organisations who apply – ESF Community Learning Grants can be a route to developing your ability to deliver employment and skills activities

Funding for what?

Eligible ORGANIZATIONS: which groups can apply?

Eligible ACTIVITIES: what can be funded?

Eligible PARTICIPANTS: who can take part?

Which groups can apply for funding?

Small constituted community and voluntary groups, registered charities & and charitable companies (limited by guarantee)

Social enterprises such as Community Interest Companies (CIC) - so long as surpluses used for community benefit

Organisations with income of no more than £300,000 per year (excluding donations and other fundraising) in last financial year….

And employing no more than 9 FTE staff Not in direct receipt of DWP or SFA funding

What activities can the grants pay for?

Help with developing basic skills Confidence building Personal development Taster work experience Voluntary work Training, advice and guidance Job search assistance Accredited learning

Some examples of projects so far Training kitchen for homeless young

people (Macclesfield) Film and media training for women

with low self esteem (Barrow) Training in furniture workshop for

people with learning difficulties (Bury) Support in overcoming barriers for

prolific ex-offenders (Manchester) + Other projects here today?

ESF Target Group & Priority Groups

The ESF Target Group – unemployed or economically inactive people 19 years & over from hardest to reach communities.

Not limited to particular geographical areas - pockets of need throughout the region

Within the target group, 5 particular priority groups identified

ESF Priority Groups Women People with disabilities or health conditions

(including learning difficulties, mental health, drug & alcohol dependency)

People aged 50 & over and seeking employment Lone parents Black & Minority Ethnic communitiesHowever, applications need not be limited to those

priority groups: other adults under-represented in labour market – could be 19-25 yr olds, homeless, ex-offenders etc

Who benefited?

Actual beneficiaries: 4229 enrolled on North West (not incl. Merseyside) projects of whom

2674 female 889 over 50 1251 disabled 1770 BME communities 639 lone parents

Outcomes

Of 4218 beneficiaries for whom we have data:422 received awards for accredited training281 began regular volunteering195 went on to further training310 found employment (including self-employment)

ESF Community Learning Grants in the North West

Alycia HansonProject AdministratorWEA (Grant Coordinating Body)February 2014

1. Application Process (Round 5)2. Capacity Building

1.1 Application process Eligibility Assessment online Application by e-mail (electronic

version) by 9am Monday 31 March 2014

Hard copy application including supporting documents – by recorded delivery post by 4pm Friday 4 April 2014

Gateway – checking for incomplete or ineligible application forms

1.2 Application process

Supporting Evidence Required – 6 items Constitution Previous year’s accounts Annual Report Health & Safety Policy Equality & Diversity Policy Adult Safeguarding Policy

Scoring Process – 5 Independent Panels Recommendations to Project Steering Group

1.3 Common Application Mistakes Not meeting the eligibility criteria Not fully completing the forms Not enough evidence of demand for

proposed activity Budget not clearly defined Learning activity to be delivered (or benefit

to learner) not clearly identified Looking for contribution for existing work –

must be seen as something ADDITIONAL

1.4 If you are not successful

We will offer:

Outline feedback from panel on why not successfulAdvice available from our partners e.g. Locality, Community Matters, VOLAAccess to Capacity Building support

1.5 If you are successful

We will:Visit you at your Learning VenueInvite you to an Induction Workshop Give you a Grant Offer Letter Offer you Capacity Building Support

We will ask you for:Learner Records & OutcomesFinancial Records & EvidenceEnd of Project Report & Case Studies

2.What is Capacity Building ?

Additional support up to £1,500 on offer to bothfunded groups and unsuccessful applicantsTraining for organisations rather than individual beneficiariesTo ‘improve delivery to ESF priority groups’Wide in scope, but could include e.g.:

Developing quality of teaching and learning Development of accreditation Guidance on mainstream routes to

employment and training Gearing up to bid for grants and contracts

Finding out more

Frequently asked questions (FAQ), case studies from previous projects and guidance notes on application form - all available from NW WEA online

Application form can be downloaded if you pass basic eligibility assessment

Workshops & events to advertise the funding & help potential applicants

Help from our Partners

Locality, Community Matters & VOLA Pre-application support Project Visits (if offered grant) Capacity Building visits Capacity Building training Project Steering Group Contact via ESF Grants Office

Round 5

Opens Friday 31st January 2014 Closes Monday 31st March - 9am Notified by Friday 2nd May Visited by Friday 16th May Induction workshops w/b 19th May Funds available from start of June Funding to be spent by end May 2015

Round 6

Opens Monday 26th May 2014 Closes Monday 7th July - 9am Notified by Friday 1st August Visited by Friday 15th August Induction workshops w/b 18 August Funds available from start of Sept. Funding to be spent by end May 2015

Round 7

Opens Monday 1st September 2014 Closes Monday 27th October - 9am Notified by Friday 21st November Visited by Friday 5th December Induction workshops w/b 8th Dec. Funds available from start Jan. 2015 Funding to be spent by end May 2015

ESF Community Learning Grants in the North West

Question & Answer Session

Becoming a Grant Panel Member

Don’t forget to complete your evaluation form!

ESF Grants Team, WEA North West Region, 4th floor, Crawford House, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9GH

Email: ESFgrants@wea.org.uk Tel: 0161 277 5411 / 5408 /5415 Twitter: @ESFnw www.nw.wea.org.uk/esf_grants/about

Contact Details: