ESFVON
European Social Fund Voluntary Organisations Northern

May 2001 Bulletin
Objective 2

SEEKING FUNDING FOR YOUR PROJECT? NEED ADVICE?
READ ON.

EDITOR'S NOTES
The new Objective 2 Programme for 2000-2006, as you will read later, is starting to gather momentum. There is considerable potential for voluntary and community organisations to access funds over the coming months. I thought the timing was such that it is an ideal opportunity to outline the activities which ESFVON continue to offer free of charge to voluntary and community organisations in the North East of England for Objective 2. Just before I outline the services, please don't be shy to ask for assistance, regardless of the level of the query. The Objective 2 staff at ESFVON will be attending meetings across the whole region covering all Priorities. If you are also in attendance why not say hello and perhaps ask your questions then instead. Please don't be concerned to ask. The services mentioned above include:

OBJECTIVE 2 PROGRAMME 2000-2006 FINALLY STARTS
Yes, you have read the heading correctly. The Objective 2 Programme for the period 2000-2006 has finally started. It was officially launched in early March 2001. For those following developments from the outset, this was a day many felt would continue to be delayed forever. Now the new Programme has started officially, across the North East packages of interested partners are being drawn together to then bring forward project ideas. Each package has its own deadline for receiving project ideas to be included in the first round of selections. Don't worry if you have not put in your projects ideas by the date of the relevant package. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. However, for those that do meet the deadline an envisaged timetable is given below. Please remember, as there are in excess of 30 packages across the Programme, the exact times will vary but will likely follow a similar process.

Early May 2001GO-NE invitation letter to packages to prepare Package Development PlanGO-NE invitation letter to packages to prepare Package Development Plan
May/JuneLikely deadline for submitting project ideas for decision by package on which project ideas will be allocated resources (It should be noted some deadlines were earlier than May 2001)
July/AugustSubmit Package Development Plan to GO-NE
August/SeptemberGO-NE approve Package Development Plan (GO-NE have stated they will appraise each PDP within one month of its receipt)
SeptemberOnce the PDP has been approved full application forms can be submitted to GO-NE, via the Package Co-ordinator for the selected projects
November/DecemberApproval of full application by GO-NE. (GO-NE have stated they will appraise each project within three months of receipt)
December 2001Once project approved by GO-NE you can submit your first claim

Please remember this is only a best estimate and certainly beyond submitting the Package's Development Plan the time scale becomes more difficult to judge. The PDP is crucial to the process as without the plan being approved by GO-NE, full applications can not submitted and approved from that package. Indeed, Government Office has indicated they will only appraise applications from projects in approved packages. Guidance is available on the expected contents of the PDP.

ESFVON strongly advises any interested parties, especially local residents, to become involved if only to be kept informed of what is happening. Local residents are particularly important in Priority 4 Targeted Communities, as mentioned in the last Bulletin (March 2001). The March 2001 final draft of the Programme Complement states Priority 4 "Partnerships will be required to ensure that local residents comprise at least 30% of a package management group and 50% of a project selection panel throughout the lifetime of the Package. Package meetings not observing these minimum representation levels will not be quorate."
OBJECTIVE 2 SINGLE PROGRAMME DOCUMENT (SPD) and PROGRAMME COMPLEMENT
The SPD is now available in hard copy from Government Office. However, ESFVON would advise not to rush to get a copy as there are so many pages it will come in three volumes. We would advise only those submitting a full application to obtain a copy of the SPD as it will be an essential tool to evidence/justify the project. Hard copies are also be available from your local package co-ordinator. ESFVON also has a small supply. The SPD is also available on the Government Office North East website. The address is: www.go-ne.gov.uk

The Programme Complement gives the eligible activities that can be funded by Objective 2 and is a much more useful starting point. Again, however, this is quite a hefty document of some 250 pages. Like the SPD, the Programme Complement March 2001 final draft is available on the above website, although it is not yet available in hard copy.

As an introduction ESFVON have shortened the Programme Complement to cover just the eligible activities, totalling about 20 pages, and this can be sent by either post or e-mail. Just to remind you the four Priorities of the North East of England Objective 2 Programme 2000-2006 are:

  1. Establishing An Entrepreneurial Culture
  2. Small And Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Growth And Competitiveness
  3. Strategic Employment Opportunities
  4. Target Communities: Building Capacity And Connecting With Jobs

You may also want to receive the Cross Cutting Priorities Promoting Sustainable Development paper(s). This is eighteen pages in total but is equally important as they must be addressed effectively in each project application, both ESF and ERDF. The three themes are:

If you would like a copy please contact ESFVON, indicating which Priority(ies) and or Cross Cutting themes you are interested in.

ESF AND ERDF APPLICATION FORMS
In recent weeks, we have been asked on a number of occasions about the availability of the full application forms for both ESF and ERDF for the 2000-2006 Objective 2 Programme. The position as it currently stands is there is a paper copy of the ERDF Application Form and accompanying Guidance. In the near future, for the first time, it is expected there will be an ERDF disk available to enable you to complete your ERDF application form on the computer.

The Objective 2 ESF application form will once again be on interactive disks. Government Office-North East is currently awaiting the disks and guidance from the Department for Education and Employment in London. These are expected in the next few weeks. The application form will also be available on the ESF News website soon. The address is www.esfnews.org.uk

It is important to note voluntary and community sector organisations wanting an application form will be able to receive copies of ESF disks and guidance regardless of whether you have internet access or not. For those who have seen the Objective 3 packs, the Objective 2 ESF material will come in a similar format. Should you require a pack please contact ESFVON for your local source.
GUIDANCE MATERIALS FOR OBJECTIVE 2 2000-2006 APPLICANTS
For the new Objective 2 Programme there have been a number of Guidance notes produced by Government Office-North East. These, in ESFVON's opinion, are a welcome development to the Programme. We strongly recommend organisations submitting full application forms for either ESF and/or ERDF read the information contained within the notes as there are a number of important elements that all applicants will have to be incorporated into projects. Getting to grips with these Guidance Notes and incorporating them into bids should help speed up the application process. It will enable a higher quality of application to be submitted and thus remove more of the barriers/hurdles you will have to overcome.

Although the list of Guidance Notes produced by Government Office North East has not been completely fixed, below is the latest list of those currently available:

Please note however, currently the Guidance Notes mentioned above are only available on the internet, with hard copies being produced soon. The address for Government Office North East is: www.go-ne.gov.uk. If you are unable to access the internet then contact ESFVON for hard copies. In addition to the above there will also be guidance produced on the following:

State AidsMonitoring and Evaluation
Administrative FrameworkRevenue eligible expenditure

EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND AND EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND LOGO
There has been a small change to the ESF and ERDF logos agreed by the European Commission last year. Instead of the strapline reading "European Community" it should now say "European Union". This second edition of the logo will supersede the original with immediate effect. However, the European Commission have agreed there will be a gradual transition to the revised version of the logo. Those already using the original logo are encouraged to switch to the revised version at the next convenient point i.e. new print run or new publicity material. This change encompasses all European Social Fund projects, including Objective 2, Objective 3 and the Community Initiatives.

If you have a copy of the original logo you may be able to edit it. However, if you need a revised copy of the logo then you can either contact ESFVON or alternatively you can find it on the internet at: www.go-ne.gov.uk
EQUAL
Whilst Objective 2 and Objective 3 in the North East of England are the best known of the European Structural Funds, for the 2000-2006 Programme there will also be four Community Initiatives. One of these will be known as EQUAL. In line with the other Structural Funds Programmes, EQUAL is still in its early stages, with applications required over the next few months. The Themes of EQUAL are:

Theme AFacilitating access and return to the labour market for those who have difficulty in being integrated or re-integrated into a labour market which must be open to all.
Theme BOpportunities to promote potential for ethnic minorities within the world of work.
Theme COpening up the business creation process to all by providing the tools required for setting up in business and for the identification and exploitation of new possibilities for creating employment in urban and rural areas.
Theme DStrengthening the Social Economy (the third sector), in particular the services of interest to the community, with a focus on improving the quality of jobs.
Theme EPromoting lifelong learning and inclusive work practices which encourage the recruitment and retention of those suffering discrimination and inequality in connection with the labour market.
Theme FSupporting the adaptability of firms and employees to structural economic change and the use of information technology and other new technologies.
Theme GReconciling family and professional life, as well as the re-integration of men and women who have left the labour market, by developing more flexible and effective forms of work organisation and support services. (Please note this theme does not cover England)
Theme HReducing gender gaps and supporting job desegregation.

There is also the aim to develop an employment strategy that is appropriate to the needs of asylum seekers, and those allowed to live and work in the UK.

One of the key components of EQUAL is the transnational elements expected to be found within projects. This basically means having partners from other Member States of the European Union.

It is important to note, as a Structural Funds Programme, EQUAL does have a maximum intervention rate, but unlike European Social Fund (ESF) projects under Objective 2 and 3, the maximum intervention rate is 50%. This means at least 50% of the total eligible costs will need to be found by the partners/consortium.

If you are interested in discovering more about EQUAL please contact ESFVON.
OBJECTIVE 2 ESF GAP GUARANTEE
In ESFVON's last Bulletin we advertised the GAP Guarantee for ESF projects due to end in December 2000. From that and subsequent work undertaken by ESFVON we are pleased to say currently £293,323 of Objective 2 ESF as been Guaranteed to voluntary and community sector projects in the North East. It is anticipated this figure could potentially double to approximately £500,000 once all projects have been appraised.
RECEIVING THIS BULLETIN BY E-MAIL
This Bulletin is now available via e-mail. If you have received this Bulletin through the post and would in future prefer to receive this publication by e-mail, please contact ESFVON. To assist in our administration if you could include the e-mail address along with contact name, organisation and postal address it would be much appreciated.
NOTICEBOARD
As part of our continuing development of the Bulletin, ESFVON is pleased to advertise the following forthcoming event.

Social Firm Development in the North East;
Supporting the Social & Financial Inclusion of People with Disabilities

  A free half-seminar for policy makers and practitioners

Wednesday 13 June 2001, 9.30am Old Assembly Rooms, Newcastle upon Tyne

Programme to include:

  • Social firms explained
  • Case studies of successful social firms
  • Technical Assistance available through social firms UK

To book a place(s) please e-mail guy.turnbull@economicpartnerships.com or telephone Wendy Goode on 01670 516 763. Please note places are limited and are only available on a first come first served basis.

The event has been organised by Social Firms UK and is supported by the European Social Fund.

If you have any information you would like to have considered for a future edition of the Bulletin please contact ESFVON. We do not have fixed dates for publication, but tend to send them when information needs to be circulated.

Last Updated: 29 May 2001

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