European Social Fund Voluntary Organisations Northern
ESF OBJECTIVE 3
FURTHER BIDDING ROUND
As a consequence of previous years underspends, and underspends notified by
successful projects, a significant number of projects which were previously on
the reserve lists have now been funded, and further approvals are being made.
As the current ESF Objective 3 Programme ends in June 2000, all funds in the
regional allocation require to be committed by 31 December 1999. Accordingly,
this will require the endorsement of a reserve list of projects sufficient to
take up any further released funds.
To ensure that there is a sufficient list of projects, and to ensure money is
not lost to the region, the following further bidding rounds have been agreed.
Applications must be submitted to the European Programmes Secretariat, GO-NE,
Wellbar House, Gallowgate, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4TD.
For advice, information packs, and individual surgeries contact ESFVON.
PRIORITY 1 - PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT
Applications are invited with a closing date for submission of Friday, 19 November 1999.
Please NOTE that all eligible Priority 1 applications received will be scored
and placed on a reserve list to be funded if and when resources become available.
PRIORITY 2 - PATHWAYS TO A GOOD START IN WORKING LIFE
There will be no further bidding round under this Priority as there are sufficient
projects on the current reserve list to take up potential underspends.
PRIORITY 3 - PATHWAYS FOR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN MEN & WOMEN
A limited amount of funding is available under this Priority, and ESFVON has
individually approached voluntary organisations which have previously shown
interest, but are currently not being funded. Other organisations who might
wish to indicate an interest should contact ESFVON immediately.
The closing date for applications is Friday, 5 November 1999.
PRIORITY 4 - PATHWAYS FOR ENHANCING CAPACITY FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Existing 12 month projects are invited to bid for a further six month period
from 1 January 2000 to 30 June 2000. The closing date for submission of
applications is Friday, 19 November 1999.
Please NOTE that all eligible Priority 4 applications received will be scored
and placed on a reserve list to be funded if and when resources become available.
New ESF OBJECTIVE 3 UPDATE
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FRAMEWORK
The Community Support Framework (CSF) for Great Britain, which is the principle
programming document outlining how Objective 3 will be spent in the period
2000-2006 has now been submitted to the European Commission.
Following the publication of the CSF, ESFVON submitted a response to the
European Programmes Secretariat, GO-NE, in relation to the proposed Priorities
for Action.
These Priorities, as anticipated, follow those set out in the previous Policy
Frame of Reference, namely:
Active Labour Market Policies
Equal Opportunities for All and Promoting Social Inclusion
Life Long Learning
Adaptability and Entrepreneurship
Improving the Participation of Women in the Labour Market
The response focused on identifying Priority Actions in accordance with the
consultation on the Police Frame of Reference, taking into account the
targeting of resources to those groups on which resources should be concentrated.
Particular emphasis was also made with reference to Capacity Building where this
is referred to by means of a number of actions and not a separate Priority as
at present.
Whilst the allocation of ESF Objective 3 resources to the North East for
2000-2006 is not yet known, we suggested the following Priority allocations:
Active Labour Market Policies
30%
Equal Opportunities & Social Inclusion
25%
Life Long Learning
25%
Adaptability & Entrepreneurship
15%
Improving Participation of Women
5%
The Regional Partnership, representing all Sectors, followed these proposals with
the exception of amending the last two Priorities to 18% and 2% respectively.
OPERATIONAL PROGRAMME
As anticipated, there has been little opportunity to contribute to the Operational
Programme which is shortly to be submitted to the European Commission.
ESFVON has, however, had sight of a draft paper, prepared by the ESF Unit,
setting out the proposed policy fields and priority actions for the implementation
of the new ESF Programme in England.
Through the Third Sector European Network, a national response is being made to
the proposals and ESFVON has contributed to this process reinforcing provision for
social inclusion over and above labour market inclusion, particularly, in the
proposed Priority 2, and reinforcing the contribution of the Voluntary Sector as
a major provider and innovator.
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
As previous applicants will be aware, a key requirement is that applications meet
priorities set out in a Regional Development Plan and target identified groups in
greatest need of support.
An updated Regional Development Plan has just been commissioned, and is scheduled for
completion by the end of November 1999.
FURTHER BRIEFINGS
Following the publication of the Operational Programme and Regional Development Plan,
ESFVON will be providing further briefings and latest news can also be found on our
Website at www.esfvon.org.uk.
Last Updated: 28 October 1999