ESFVON
European Social Fund Voluntary Organisations Northern
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO PROJECTS
Please be aware that hthere are inconsistencies in the definition of a
"significant change" to projects in the following documents
available to applicants:
ESF Guidance for Applicants
ESF Good Practive Guide
ESF Contract
The Good Practive Guide currently refers to a significant change as being
above 20%. As a result, the revised definition below should be used to
replace Section 3.2.4 (Identifying and reporting significant changes) with
immediate effect.
The following corrct definition of a "significant change" should be
used and communicated to applicants if necessary:
Applicants must notify the Government Office as early as possible and in
writing, of any material changes to the project including changes to project
costs, outputs, project financing, ownership or proposed use. If project costs
or outputs vary by +/-15% or more, the applicant must also seek and obtain
agreement to the change from the Government Office. Changes of +/-15% or more
are known as "Significant Change". Applicants must, in addition to
details of the significant change, provide reasons to the Government Office
why the project should still be part-financed by ESF and demonstrate how the
project still meets the aims and objectives of the fund and still has added value.
Please note, the revised definition above is not a change to the
existing rule but removes the inconsistency of guidance give to applicants.
Future versions of these documents will be amended to ensure consistency.
The ESF News website will also be updated shortly as the first two of these
documents are frequently downloaded by applicants.
Last Updated: January 2001