ESVFON - April 2002 Bulletin

ESFVON

European Social Fund Voluntary Organisations Northern

ESF OBJECTIVE 3

Call for Applications

A further bidding round has been announced and applications are invited direct to Government Office for the North East by

FRIDAY 31 MAY 2002

This call for applications could be the last opportunity during 2002/2003 to seek funding through direct bidding to Government Office for projects operating up until 31 December 2003. Accordingly, as in the past, applicants will have to provide their own match funding.

HOW DO WE APPLY?

All applications have to be submitted on an interactive disk which is supplied with the Application Pack.

NOTE: Organisations that have previously applied for Objective 3 funding through Government Office for the North East can use the disks they previously received provided they are dated April 2001.

The application on disk is then submitted, together with two printed paper copies and the required Public Match Funding Certificates, to:

D Mitchinson
European Programmes Secretariat
Government Office for the North East
Wellbar House, Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4TD

WHERE DO WE GET AN APPLICATION PACK?

Voluntary and community organisations should apply to ESFVON at:

ESFVON St Cuthbert's House, West Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE15 7PY Tel: 0191 274 9886 Fax: 0191 274 2235 Email: info@esfvon.org.uk

A pack containing the National Guidance, Regional Applications Guidance, and the interactive disk will be forwarded to you by return. Alternatively, the National Guidance and interactive form can be downloaded from www.esfnews.org.uk.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?

The deadline for submission of applications to Government Office for the North East is:

FRIDAY 31 MAY 2002 by 5.00 p.m.

WHAT PERIOD IS THE FUNDING FOR?

The earliest start date is 1 May 2002, and applications must have an end date no later than 31 December 2003. Your project can be any length between these dates e.g. it could start on 1 July 2002 and finish on 28 February 2003 or it could be for the whole period.

HOW MUCH WILL ESF FUND?

The European Social Fund will fund up to 45 % of the eligible costs of your project. The remaining 55% must be funded through match funding which can include Public Match Funding, Private Match Funding and Volunteer Time. For further advice on your funding package, please contact ESFVON.

DO WE NEED THE REGIONAL APPLICATION GUIDANCE?

Yes. Funding will cover eligible activities within the Policy Fields and Measures outlined on the following page. However, priorities are contained within the Regional Applications Guidance and given the limitation on ESF resources, you are strongly advised to focus your activities on these priority areas.

Copies of the revised Regional Application Guidance (May 2002 edition) are available from ESFVON or can be downloaded from the Government Office Website at :

www.go-ne.gov.uk.

HOW CAN WE GET MORE HELP / ADVICE?

To discuss your project proposal, or to receive informed comment on your draft application then contact ESFVON on 0191 274 9886 for an appointment.

Policy Fields / Measures

Applications are invited for all Policy Fields and Measures, but there are limited resources as set out below:

Policy Field	Resources Available
Active Labour Market Policies
1.1 Advice & Guidance and continuous job search strategies	81,719
1.2 Improve the employability of the unemployed, returners, and young people of working age	1,039,174
Equal Opportunities For All and Promoting Social Inclusion
2.1 Access to Basic Skills Provision	385,788
2.2 Improve the Employability and Remove Barriers to Labour Market Entry for those Groups Disadvantaged in the Labour Market	1,630,128
2.3 Combating Discrimination in the Labour Market	22,048
Lifelong Learning
3.1 Promoting Wider Access and Participation in Lifelong Learning	1,987,208
3.2 Lifelong Learning Provision Responsive to Changing Needs of Employers	857.053
Adaptability and Entrepreneurship
4.1 Update and Upgrade Employees Vocational Skills, including Basic and Key Skills	749,879
4.2 Identifying and Meeting Emerging Skill Shortages	841,911
4.3 Entrepreneurship and Competitive SMEs	345,045
Improving the Participation of Women in the Labour Market
5.1 To Improve Access to Learning and Remove Barriers to Employment	858,336
5.2 Research into Gender Discrimination	1,557,175

Last Updated: 4 May 2002

ESF OBJECTIVE 3 ************ Call for Applications ************