ESVFON - Objective 2 October 2001 Bulletin

ESFVON

European Social Fund Voluntary Organisations Northern

OBJECTIVE 2 BULLETIN

Since the last Bulletin there have been significant developments in the new Objective 2 Programme, despite slippage across the majority of the region.

Within this Bulletin is a large amount of information for those who have previously applied for Objective 2 funding, those organisations currently applying and those considering applying in the future.

UPDATE ON PACKAGE DEVELOPMENT

The Package Delivery Plan (PDP), written by each individual package, states how the package will operate in relation to administration, financial and performance indicator allocations. Initially it was thought packages would be submitting their PDP's to Government Office for the North East (GO-NE) during July and August for endorsement during August/September. Packages in all Priorities and geographical locations found this to be an unrealistic target. The lone exception was the Priority 4 package for Blyth in Northumberland. Blyth submitted and received endorsement for their PDP first across the region and to the original timetable. Below is the latest list of when packages expect to be submitted.

Priorities 1 & 2 Packages Status/REG Meeting PDP Being Submitted To
*	Northumberland	Approved	*	Access to Finance	Unknown
*	Tyne & Wear	Approved	*	Developing SMEs	Approved
*	Durham	Approved	*	Clusters	Unknown
*	Tees Valley	Approved	*	Innovation (Technology)	Unknown
Priority 3 Packages Status/REG Meeting PDP Being Submitted To
*	South East Northumberland	Nov 2001	*	Middlehaven, Middlesbrough	Dec 2001
*	East Gateshead Riverside	Nov 2001	*	Sunderland ARC	Nov/Dec 2001
*	Morton Palms, Darlington	Nov 2001	*	East Durham	Nov 2001
*	North Bank, Stockton	Nov/Dec 2001	*	South West Durham	Dec 2001
*	Tees Estuary	Dec 2001	*
Priority 4 Package Status/REG Meeting PDP Being Submitted To
Northumberland			Tyne & Wear
*	Rural North'land	Feb 2002	*	North Tyneside	Nov 2001
*	Wansbeck	Nov 2001	*	Newcastle	Oct 2001
*	Blyth	Approved	*	Gateshead	Nov 2001
			*	South Tyneside	Oct 2001
County Durham			*	Sunderland	Nov 2001
*	Chester-le-Street	Dec 2001
*	Easington	Feb 2002	Tees Valley
*	Derwentside (5)	Jan 2002	*	Stockton	Oct 2001
*	Durham	Feb 2002	*	Darlington	Dec 2001
*	Sedgefield (3)	Jan 2002	*	Hartlepool	Oct 2001
*	Teesdale (2)	Feb 2002	*	Middlesbrough	Nov 2001
*	Wear Valley (3)	Feb 2002	*	Redcar & Cleveland	Nov 2001

Note. Numbers in Brackets indicates number of Package Delivery Plans (PDP) to be submitted

The range of dates outlined above shows that packages are moving at varying speeds. Don't worry if you have not applied yet. There is still time for you to become involved regardless of the speed at which the package or packages you are interested in applying to are moving. If you would like further information on how to become involved in the process or would like to discuss potential ideas, please don't hesitate to contact either Sue Mason or Victor Ottaway at ESFVON. Their contact details can be found on the front page of this Bulletin. For the Tees Valley area we work in partnership with One Voice Tees Valley (OVTV). You should contact Sue Featherstone at New Exchange Buildings, Queens Square, Middlesbrough TS23 1AA, Tel: (01642) 240651, Fax: (01642) 247409, E-mail sue.featherstone@ovtv.org.uk

The last Objective 2 Bulletin was produced prior to the Programme Complement being finalised. This final version is now complete done with hard copies available from ESFVON and OVTV Objective 2 project staff, your package co-ordinator or the Secretariat at GO-NE for those that cannot access the internet. PLEASE NOTE YOU SHOULD BE WORKING FROM THE CORRECT VERSION OF THE DOCUMENT. ONLY THOSE DATED JUNE 2001 SHOULD BE USED.

ESFVON/OVTV OBJECTIVE 2 SERVICES

In the new Programme there is considerable potential for voluntary and community organisations to access funds over the coming months. As in the past Programme, ESFVON/OVTV can help you with:-

Project Development - In the coming months we will be visiting organisations at their request to discuss their 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 or Sue Featherstone.
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 this projects 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
Best Practice Packs - We has also produced packs on the horizontal issues all projects must address:-
- Equal Opportunities
- Sustainability
- Environmental issues
Support Visits - Anticipated later in the year will be the opportunity to assist organisations through support visits to ensure those with approved projects, both ESF and/or ERDF, have effective and efficient monitoring systems. One of the problems encountered by projects funded under the previous Objective 2 Programme, were inadequate data collection, storage and management systems which 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 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.

OBJECTIVE 2 GUIDANCE NOTES

For the Objective 2 2000-2006 Programme now in operation GO-NE have been producing a large amount of Guidance Notes. These have been written in relatively easy language and are a welcome addition to the process. Whilst the Notes are very useful we would advise that you do not rush to print them all off the GO-NE website as they will use quite a large amount of paper. It would be better just to dip in and out of them as appropriate, perhaps just viewing particular Notes on the screen. Following is the latest list of Guidance Notes:

*	ERDF Offer Letter	*	Glossary of Terms
*	Revenue Eligibility	*	Environmental Sustainability
*	Capital Eligibility	*	Equal Opportunities
*	Performance Indicators	*	Information Communication Technology
*	Administrative Procedures	*	Publicity Requirements
*	Core and General Eligibility	*	State Aid
*	Private Sector Applicants	*	Eligibility Rules
*	Package Process	*	Match Funding for ERDF Applications
*	An Introduction to European Structural Funds in the North East	*	DTI Match Funding for the European Structural Funds
*	Objective 2 PMC and REG	*	Project Monitoring (Draft)
*	Applications Assessment Manual (Draft)

EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (ESF) APPLICATION FORMS

Once again the ESF application form is an interactive computerised form and has been written in Microsoft Access 97. If you have internet capabilities then you will be expected to download the form and the accompanying guidance. The procedure for doing this is as follows:

Go to the GO-NE website at www.go-ne.gov.uk
At the home page go to Key Business and click on the European Structural Funds option that appears
Click on Objective 2
Click on Documents needed to make an ERDF Application (yes this is correct even for downloading the ESF forms!)
Click on Downloadable ESF Interactive Form
Click on the European Flag next to the Objectives 1, 2 & 3 mainstream Interactive Application Form option to begin the downloading

If you do not have access to the internet then floppy disks or CD-Roms are available from either ESFVON, OVTV or your Package Co-ordinator. A blue and yellow glossy plastic folder containing the ESF guidance accompanies the disks. PLEASE NOTE THIS FOLDER IS THE SAME ONE AS USED FOR ALL ROUNDS OF 2000-2006 OBJECTIVE 3 APPLICATIONS AND AS SUCH IF YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED A PLASTIC PACK THEN YOU WILL BE EXPECTED TO USE IT FOR OBJECTIVE 2. The only difference is that you may require some new disks as only those dated April 2001 or later will have the Objective 2 ESF application form on the disk.

EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND (ERDF) APPLICATION FORMS.

For the first time in Objective 2 the ERDF form is also now available on disk. Whilst it is less sophisticated than the ESF equivalent, it does do the basics of adding up your figures and cross referencing them with others elsewhere on the form. The disk version of the ERDF form was developed by GO-NE and uses Microsoft Excel 97. There are a couple of points to note.

The first is that the size of the boxes do not expand (so any text you type in which exceeds the box size will not be seen when printed out).

The second point is those people who received disks from ESFVON prior to mid September (INCLUDING THOSE ORGANISATIONS IN TEES VALLEY WHO ATTENDED ESFVON'S SEMINARS ON APPLICATION FORM COMPLETION) or downloaded from the internet before 1st August have a version with a couple of small errors. The one to be aware of is on page 8 covering Eligible Revenue. Basically what happens is the formulae go awry. GO-NE have informed us the disks can still be used but perhaps when you submit your full application, you could append a covering letter saying what the figures should actually be on that page. Alternatively you could contact either ESFVON, OVTV or the Package Co-ordinator to receive the corrected disk version, or download if possible. The downloading procedure is as follows:-

Go to the GO-NE website at www.go-ne.gov.uk
At the home page go to Key Business and click on the European Structural Funds option that appears
Click on Objective 2
Click on Documents needed to make an ERDF Application
Click on ERDF Application in excel format to begin downloading

It is important to remember, as with ESF, you will be required to send a paper copy of your application, originally signed by the appropriate person. If you do not want to use the computer version of the ERDF form, you can still hand write or use a typewriter on the paper version, if you so choose. There is no paper alternative for ESF forms. GO-NE have also indicated they will be happy to receive photocopied ERDF forms and copies printed in black and white from the computer so long as they are originally signed. As those who attended the recent seminars are probably thinking at this stage, use a blue pen if you can as it shows the signature has not been photocopied. Finally, please don't forget you will also need a paper copy of your business plan.

ESF AND NEW DEAL

There has been a change in procedure from previous years regarding New Deal match funded ESF projects. New Deal Public Match Funding Certificates (PMFCs) must now be sent to the Employment Service Northern Regional Office, Broadacre House, Market Street East, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6HQ rather than the District Offices. They should be marked for the attention of Christine Beswick. Please note that this is different from the guidance given in the ESF application packs and forms, which is now incorrect.

PROGRAMME COMPLEMENT ERROR

Please note on page 72 of the Programme Complement under the 'Target Beneficiaries' section of Measure 2.3 it should read "Existing SMEs in the Programme area", not "New and Existing SMEs".

ERDF PLAQUES

For the 2000-2006 Programme there has been a change in ERDF plaque and wording. The wording should now read "This project has been part financed by the European Union" not "European Community". However, at present the new plaques are not available. Until they are, the 'old' plaques (they're 30cm by 20cm or in 'old money' 12in by 8in) should be used. ESFVON and OVTV have a small supply which are free to voluntary and community organisations with ERDF funded projects. Although no ERDF funded projects have yet been approved within the sector, projects seeking retrospection, especially revenue projects should, as part of their publicity requirements, have the plaques already on display.

If you need copies of the ESF or ERDF official logos, we can send you copies on e-mail or disk via the post, or you could download from the GO-NE website address given previously.

FINAL CLAIMS ERDF6 FORM

ESFVON has been asked by Government Office for the North East to remind organisations submitting final claims that you must send a copy of the ERDF6. You must also provide a full progress report detailing problems, successes etc on the project and your latest audited accounts.

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 it by e-mail, please contact ESFVON. To assist in our administration, if you could include your e-mail address along with contact name, organisation and postal address it would be much appreciated.

Last Updated: 4 November 2001