ESVFON - April 2002 Bulletin

ESFVON

European Social Fund Voluntary Organisations Northern

OBJECTIVE 2 BULLETIN - APRIL 2002

OBJECTIVE 2 VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY SECTOR REGIONAL FORUM

SPEAKER: DAVID SLATER, DIRECTOR OF EUROPE & COMPETITIVENESS, GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR THE NORTH EAST

On Thursday 23rd May 2002, David Slater, Head of European funding at Government Office has confirmed he will be attending the Objective 2 Voluntary & Community Regional Forum, organised by ESFVON. With the 2000-2006 Programme almost half way through its first period, David along with many others within the region are looking to improve the system up to the mid-term review at the end of 2003. He is very keen to gain a greater understanding of the issues facing voluntary and community organisations that are engaged in the process to find out their experiences. He also is interested in the views of those who choose not to become greatly involved and the reasons why not. Bearing in mind the current position of the Objective 2 Programme, particularly Priority 4 there should be plenty of issues to discuss.

A Programme and booking form have been attached to the end of this Bulletin. To reserve a place(s) please return the booking form to ESFVON by e-mail, fax or post. The venue, the Glebe Centre in Murton, has been chosen due to its central location in the region to maximise potential attendance by organisations across the North East.

ESFVON AWARDED CONTRACT TO PROVIDE OBJECTIVE 2 SUPPORT TO VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

As some of you may know ESFVON has been awarded the contract to continue to offer Objective 2 support services to voluntary and community organisations across the North East of England. In partnership with One Voice Tees Valley, ESFVON continue to offer the following services free of charge:

Project Development - To discuss your project ideas and develop them into project applications. A visit can range from giving a general overview of the opportunities available, to detailed assistance on technical issues. If you would like a visit please contact Sue Mason, Victor Ottaway on 0191 274 9886 or Sue Featherstone at One Voice Tees Valley on 01642 240 651.
Seminars - ESFVON/OVTV have held and will be holding/promoting seminars across the region to assist voluntary and community organisations complete their full application forms for both ESF and ERDF. We also anticipate holding monitoring and evaluation seminars once projects start to receive approval.
Factfiles - As part of project services for Objective 2 we have produced a number of Factfiles over the last few months. Titles currently available include:
- Sources of Match Funding (also applicable to Objective 3 and Community Initiatives)
- A Guide to Opportunities under Objective 2 2000-2006
- Objective 2 Administration Arrangements 2000-2006
- Sources of Evidence (the documents required to complete an ESF/ERDF application)
- Objective 2 Application Process (April 2002)
- Objective 2 Pro-forma & Application form Common Mistakes (April 2002)
Best Practice Packs - We have also produced packs on the horizontal issues all projects must address:-
- Equal Opportunities
- Sustainability
- Environmental issues
- Capacity Building
- Rural Issues
Support Visits - Visits organisations with approved projects, both ESF and/or ERDF, to ensure they have effective and efficient monitoring systems. One of the problems encountered by projects funded under the previous Objective 2 Programme, was inadequate data collection, storage and management systems that lead to reporting and financial difficulties.
Telephone Enquiries - These activities underpin everything we do, covering topics related to Objective 2 funding. If you just want to learn a little more about any aspect of European funding from the most basic of information through to very detailed, specific points you could use this service. We would be happy to hear from you with any questions you may have. Alternatively you could e-mail your queries to us.
Dissemination of Information - We undertake this through a variety of means. The Bulletin is the main method of dissemination and is sent out regularly throughout the year to ensure the recipients receive important information. Our website is also updated regularly. It can be viewed at www.esfvon.org.uk Don't forget you can now get this Bulletin via e-mail if we have your e-mail address.
Regional Forum - This project holds the Voluntary and Community Sector Objective 2 Regional Forum to bring together interested organisations from across the North East when there are important issues relating to Objective 2 and the sector. The next Forum will be held on Thursday 23rd May 2002 (see above).
Priority 4 Package Co-ordinators Support Network - this new development brings together all of the Priority 4 Package Co-ordinators across the region to exchange Best Practice and formulate improvements to the Programme.
Objective 2 Voluntary and Community Sector Rapid Response Unit - see below.

OBJECTIVE 2 VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY SECTOR RAPID RESPONSE UNIT

ESFVON's Director provides a voice for the voluntary & community sector on the Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) and the Regional Executive Group (REG). Previously ESFVON used a couple of methods of consulting with the sector. When time and resources have permitted ESFVON has consulted, usually through this Bulletin, with our entire network of some 700 organisations. When, as is often the case, time is short for a particular issue to get a response, ESFVON has called upon particular voluntary and community sector organisations and contacts for comments.

For this new Programme, ESFVON have recently written out to a number of voluntary and community organisations to invite them to participate in the Rapid Response Unit. With organisations from across the whole of the region having been invited, one the key concerns is the physical distance involved to attend convened meetings. For this reason, although not excluding the need for occasional meetings, it is intended to use e-mail (or post if e-mail is not available) to communicate with the members.

To attempt to cover all geographical and thematic areas of the Objective 2 Programme, ESFVON has identified the following gaps that we are particularly keen to fill:

Equal Opportunities	Crime & Safety Schemes
Delegated Grants Schemes	Local self help initiatives (LETS, Credit Unions)

If you are interested in becoming involved in the Rapid Response Unit or feel you would like to suggest someone else then please contact ESFVON.

QUALITY OF PROJECT APPLICATIONS

ESFVON recently asked Go-NE Priority 4 - Target Communities team to identify common problems from initial appraisals of projects submitted to GO-NE. The following are the most common problems identified to date.

Don't over complicate things. Projects coming forward have gone into far too much detail on issues that are not key the their appraisal. For example, particularly for small ERDF projects business plans do not need to be lengthy. Most projects should be able to cover the key points in the ERDF business plan guidance in less than 5 pages. Similarly if a business plan has been prepared for some other purpose, and covers the points needed for ERDF GO-NE would much rather use that rather than make the applicant do another business plan just for Objective 2.
Links to the Community Appraisal and Package Delivery Plan (PDP) strategic objectives. This is very important. Many applicants are going into long winded justification which are just not necessary, yet not mentioning how the projects fits into the needs and opportunities identified in the Community Appraisal and PDP strategic objectives.
Performance Indicators. From the applications received by GO-NE, it seems that there is still a lot of confusion surrounding performance indicators. Applicants need to check the quantification tables in the Monitoring Guidance Note before submitting an application, just to make sure the project is claiming the correct outputs and results for the activities being undertaken. The main problems seem to be double counting and misunderstanding the scope of many of the Performance Indicators, including the cascading. Copies of the Guidance Note can be found on the GO-NE website (www.go-ne.gov.uk) or from ESFVON.

Please don't feel you are alone in the Objective 2 process. There are a range of support mechanisms to assist you submit quality applications. ESFVON provides free of charge support to voluntary and community organisations, and there are others including package co-ordinators. If you have applied several times previously or you are new to Objective 2 you should seek advice on both proformas and most importantly full applications for both ESF and ERDF.

INTERIM CLAIMS

Please note that when submitting claims for either ESF or ERDF projects to GO-NE you should only be including actual expenditure, not notional figures.

CHANGE OF DATE FOR COMMITMENT IN PRIORITY 4 SOFT LANDING AREAS

Please note that the commitment date for Priority 4 Soft Landing areas is no longer 30th June 2002. It has been agreed to extend the commitment date (the allocation of funds to a project, normally verifiable by the issue of a contract or similar legally binding document) until 31st December 2002. Expenditure cut off remains 31st December 2003.

The "Soft Landing" areas in Priority 4 are as follows:

LA Name	Ward Name
Northumberland
Blyth Valley	Isabella
Wansbeck	College
	Newbiggin West
	Sleekburn
Tyne & Wear
North Tyneside	Collingwood (EDs CKFE 01-16, 18)
	Longbenton
	Howdon (EDs CKFH 01-03, 05-08, 13-15, 17,18)
Sunderland	Central (EDs CMFB 01,03-05, 10-16, 20-23, 25, 28-30.)
Durham
Chester-le-Street	Chester West
Tees Valley
Hartlepool	Brinkburn (EDs ESFA 05)
	Park (EDs ESFL 06,07,11)
	Throston (EDs ESFS 02, 05, 06)
	Grange (EDs ESFF 04)
Middlesbrough	Linthorpe (EDs EUFN 03)
	Newham (EDs EUFQ 07, 27)
Redcar and Cleveland	Dormanstown (ED ETFH 02)
	Saltburn (EDs ETFX 03)
	Skelton (EDs ETFY 04, 10, 12)
Stockton-on-Tees	Charltons (EDs EWFC 11)
	Stainsby (EDs EWGB 01, 05, 07-09, 12, 14)
	St. Aidan's (EDs EWFZ 03, 10,11)
	Village (EDs EWGD 07)
	Marsh House (EDs EWFP 12, 15)
	Elm Tree (EDs EWFE 07)
	Yarm (EDs EWGG 04)

UPDATE ON PACKAGES - IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR RESOURCES THEN YOU SHOULD READ THIS SECTION

Packages within Priority 4 are still at several different stages of development. Some packages have forged ahead and have their Package Delivery Plan and community appraisals agreed by Government Office for the North East. Others have submitted these documents to GO-NE for appraisal. Whilst a few, mainly found in the more rural areas are finalising their documents for submission.

What has become apparent to the vast majority of Priority 4 packages is that the are potentially significant gaps in the following:

Measure 4.1 - Establishing Capacity in Target Communities

There are potential gaps in some packages regarding voluntary and community organisations running projects that offer revenue support for organisational capacity building to other voluntary and community organisations.

Measure 4.2 - Promoting Community Based Enterprises

This Measure generally across the region is not being taken up. Even if you are in one of the few packages that have allocated some/all of its resources their should still be plenty of resources available to you probably later in the year. This is due to the moving of resources across packages to ensure they are spent and Performance Indicators achieved. The eligible actions are as follows:

Support for the development of community enterprises based in the target communities including the facilitation of community business best practice and information transfer, such as studies and assessments of the success of the community business sector in other regions.
Support for the development of local self-help initiatives such as credit unions and local exchange trading systems which are themselves constituted as community businesses
Targeted business support actions, in fields such as consultancy, strategic planning on marketing opportunities, establishment of common marketing services, to help community business to become established including the provision of seedcorn funding for new community business starts.

Be aware support for community businesses will be limited to the first three years of trading. Also support for social economy projects should be limited to establishment costs, not for the continuing revenue support for employment, other than where this is linked to training/work experience.

Measure 4.3 - Investing in Sustainable Communities

This particular Measure is probably where the least proportion of resources across the region has been allocated. Before reading the eligible actions it is important to note stand alone environmental improvement projects without a clear link to a job and training opportunities for local people will not be supported. Although this Measure is intended to link closely with Measure 4.5 ( ESF) for the training, it is important to note that the training resources can come from other sources including Objective 3 or New Deal. The following are the eligible activities:

Initiatives to stimulate investment by tackling crime and improving safety through community based partnerships/joint community safety projects with the police, local communities, businesses and other key stakeholders where employment and/or training opportunities are provided for residents of target communities.
Development of environmental projects by residents, supported by appropriate agencies and, where relevant, in line with Local Agenda 21 Frameworks, to develop local strategies to tackle pollution and the management and recycling of waste - linked to training and employment opportunities for residents of target communities
Support for measures to improve premises linked to the needs of residents and small businesses and provide employment and training for local residents
Targeted packages of environmental improvements involving local residents in project design, implementation and management including: reclamation and improvement of degraded or neglected sites, remodelling and redesign of public open and green spaces to improve their quality including safety and security, development of those elements of green spaces including allotments, community orchards and wildlife habitats, where demonstrably linked to employment and training opportunities.

Measure 4.4 - Improving Employability: Pathways to Work This Measure has been allocated resources by every package. However gaps still exist. The main gap that has been identified across the region is the lack of projects addressing higher level outputs (i.e. NVQ Level 3 and/or equivalents). Most projects selected are achieving lower level qualifications such as NVQ 1 and 2, and pre-NVQ's. As the title of the Measure indicates, the eligible activities are designed to assist beneficiaries (those accessing the projects) to move towards employment/the labour market or improve their position within the labour market.

The age range is from 13-16 years olds in danger of exclusion from formal education to one year before statutory retirement age (i.e. 59 for women, 64 for men).

Measure 4.5 - Improving Employability: Links to Community Capacity, Businesses and Sustainability

Projects in this Measure must be linked to an ERDF project funded under either Measure 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3. This Measure provides the ESF activities that go to support the ERDF actions.

ESF LOGO - ARE YOU USING THE CORRECT VERSION?

It has been brought to our attention a number of organisations are still using the old ESF logo as part of job adverts and other publications. Below is the ESF logo that should now be used. If you still have stationery that has the old logo on then please do not throw this out as you can still use it. When that particular stock is re-ordered then please remember to use the correct logo. The new logo can be downloaded from the Government Office website (www.go-ne.gov.uk) or disk copies can be sent out by ESFVON if you are unable to download.

ESFVON PUBLICATIONS

Objective 2 - Your Questions Answered (Feb 2002)
Objective 3 - Your Questions Answered (Feb 2002)

Objective 2 Factfiles -

Sources of Match Funding (December 2000) (also applicable to other Programmes including Objective 3)
A Guide to Opportunities under Objective 2 (Mar 2001)
Objective 2 Administration Arrangements (Mar 2001)
Sources of Evidence (Apr 2002)
Objective 2 Application Process (April 2002)
Objective 2 Pro-forma & Application form Common Mistakes (April 2002)

Objective 2 Best Practice Packs -

Equal Opportunities (Aug 2001) (also applicable to other Programmes including Objective 3)
environmental Sustainability (Aug 2001) (also applicable to other Programmes including Objective 3)
Information Society (Information & Communication Technologies) (Aug 2001) (also applicable to other Programmes including Objective 3)
Capacity Building (Apr 2002)
Rural Issues (Apr 2002)

If you would like copies of any of the above please contact ESFVON. The above publications are available by either e-mail or post. Please indicate on your request how you would like to receive the information.

OBJECTIVE 2 VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY SECTOR REGIONAL FORUM PROGRAMME

THURSDAY 23rd MAY 2002 - 9.30am-12.45pm
THE GLEBE CENTRE, MURTON, COUNTY DURHAM

9.30	REGISTRATION
10.0 WELCOME &	INTRODUCTION
10.05	OBJECTIVE 2 PROGRAMME PROGRESS
10.20	DAVID SLATER, DIRECTOR OF COMPETITIVENESS AND EUROPE, GOVERNMENT OFFICE FOR THE NORTH EAST
10.35	PACKAGE CO-ORDINATORS PERSPECTIVE
10.45	VOLUNTARY & COMMUNITY SECTOR RESPONSE
11.00	BREAK
11.15	WORKSHOPS
12.30	DAVID SLATER'S WORKSHOP OBSERVATIONS
12.45	CLOSE

THIS EVENT IS PART FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND AND THE EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND AND SUPPORTED BY REGIONAL PARTNERS

OBJ3 Regional Forum

THURSDAY 23 MAY 2002, 9.30AM-12.45PM
THE GLEBE CENTRE, MURTON, EASINGTON,
COUNTY DURHAM

Continuing on from previous successful Voluntary and Community Sector Objective 2 Regional Forum, we are now planning the next event. This will be to discuss the administration arrangements (project approval process) in view of offering improvements to the system for both the short and longer terms.

Don't miss this excellent opportunity to inform the future direction of the Objective 2 Programme. Hopefully, to reduce the bureaucracy and delays to speed up decision making throughout the Programme.

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW BY FAX, E-MAIL OR POST

Returning to:
ESFVON, St Cuthberts House, West Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 7PY
Tel: 0191 2749886 - Fax: 0191 2742235 - E-mail: info@esfvon.org.uk

Name: ………….………………………………………..………….. Attending: YES/NO

Organisation: …………………………………………………………………………..…………

Address:

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………………………………………………………………… Tel. No: ………………………..

E-mail: ………………………………………………………. Fax No: ………………………..

Special Access Needs: YES/NO*

If yes, please state ………………………………………………………………………….

*delete as appropriate (please complete one form per person)

Last Updated: 4 May 2002