ESVFON - ESF Objective 3

ESFVON

European Structrial Funds Voluntary Organisations Northern

URGENT UPDATE - DEADLINE 10TH JANUARY 2003

ESF OBJECTIVE 3: CO-FINANCING BIDDING ROUND

Tees Valley Learning and Skills Council are inviting applications from organisations under the Policy Fields/Measures listed below, for projects to be delivered in Tees Valley area. Applications in excess of £50,000 preferred.

Policy Field/Measure 1.2

Actions to improve the chances of work of the unemployed, returners and young people of working age through targeted involvement to improve vocational and other key skills and removing external barriers to entering the labour market.

Total funding available: £913,054

Targeted Activity: from the following

Providing support through integrated approaches including advice and guidance, job search activities and mentoring.

Supporting individuals to overcome barriers to learning.

Providing basic skills qualifications to NVQ Level 2 or equivalent.

Providing social skills sessions to help young people achieve an NVQ Level 2 and enhance their employability.

Support to improve the retention of those currently on government-funded programmes.

Developing promotional activity to widen participation in learning.

Innovative ICT, social and key skills support.

Target Groups

Jobless* (*includes those currently participating in Government-funded programmes) between 16 to 24 years of age

Lone parents seeking to enter or re-enter the labour market

Jobless* for more than 6 months, especially those unemployed for more than one year

Jobless* and lacking core and basic skills, and/or formal qualifications

Jobless* and lacking experience

Jobless* aged over 50

Expected Outcomes: projects to contribute to the following -

Beneficiaries registered as working towards a qualification

Beneficiaries achieving a NVQ level 2 qualification or equivalent

Beneficiaries into employment

Beneficiaries into further education training or other government programmes

Policy Field/Measure 2.1

Actions to enable jobless people to improve their basic skills. Courses must lead to qualifications at pre-NVQ level or equivalent. Learning should be aimed at those who demonstrate the highest levels of basis skills needs. Individuals who are seeking dyslexia assessment and tuition should also benefit. Total funding available: £208,000

Targeted Activity: from the following

Tackling low achievement in literacy and numeracy at ward level, including the provision of basic and key skills assessment

Extending parent/family-learning initiatives

Increasing provision to address language barriers and basic skills through trainer training

Establishment of a community outreach service which will enable learners to access learning in their locality

Target Groups

Jobless* for between 6 and 12 months

Individuals who demonstrate the highest levels of basic skills needs

Individuals who are seeking dyslexia assessment and tuition

Expected Outcomes: projects to contribute to the following -

Beneficiaries registered as working towards a basic skills qualification (pre- NVQ)

Beneficiaries achieving a basic skills qualification (pre-NVQ)

Beneficiaries into employment

Beneficiaries into further education training or other learning

Basic skills/ESOL tutors trained

Policy Field/Measure 2.2

Actions to improve the chances of employment and remove barriers to labour market entry for young people aged 16 to 17 who are currently in their final year at school or have recently left. Those resident in the Tees Valley's most deprived wards that have or are at risk of 'dropping out' should be given priority. Total funding available: £390,119

Targeted Activity: from the following

Providing intensive support to enable target groups to reach a level of basic achievement and access employment opportunities

Assessing individuals' skills needs and developing individual learning plans

Developing a programme of confidence building, self-esteem and motivational courses and working skills

Developing a vocational training programme that must include learning opportunities

Providing enhanced work experience opportunities, including taster sessions

Note - majority of beneficiaries must be working towards a recognised qualification and should achieve a NVQ level 1 or equivalent where possible

Target Groups

Young people aged 16 to 17 who reside in the most deprived wards in the Tees Valley

Expected Outcomes: projects to contribute to the following -

Beneficiaries registered as working towards a basic qualification (NVQ level 1)

Beneficiaries achieving a basic qualification (NVQ level 1)

Beneficiaries into employment

Beneficiaries into further education training or other learning

Policy Field/Measure 4.1

Actions to upgrade employees' vocational skills, including basic and key skills.

The following sectors are targeted though other sectors may be considered: Voluntary and community, Chemical and Electrical, Construction, Food Manufacture, Health and Social Care, Tourism and Hospitality, Transport.

Total funding available £538,106

Note: Applicants under this Measure may be required to work in partnership with Business Link Tees Valley

Targeted Activity: from the following

Develop employees by upgrading and updating vocational skills to enable them to access new opportunities

Provide innovative methods of delivering vocational and basis skills training

Update and upgrade existing traditional workplace skills focussing on ICT

Upskilling of work-based assessors and trainers who teach Adult Literacy and Numeracy in the new qualifications Framework (Cert in Ed & Subject Specific Level 4); ditto other of work-based assessors and trainers (level 3 qualification in either Adult literacy or Numeracy); ditto front line workers (level 2 qualification in either Adult literacy or Numeracy)

The piloting of innovative approaches to the identification of literacy and numeracy needs in the workplace and how these might be best be met. Particular priority will be given to increasing employee skill levels in literacy and numeracy from Level 1 to Level 2

Note - all beneficiaries must be working towards a recognised qualification

Expected Outcomes: projects to contribute to the following -

Beneficiaries registered as working towards a qualification

Beneficiaries achieving a recognised qualification

Beneficiaries into employment

Beneficiaries into further education, training or other learning

Work-based assessors and trainers trained

Policy Field/Measure 4.2

Actions to identify and address emerging skills shortages within all sectors, including new skills emerging from the knowledge-driven economy. The provision of training to meet identified skills shortages.

Total funding available £333,053

Note: bids encouraged from applicants who can deliver Management and Development training across the above sectors

Targeted Activity:

Training to nationally recognised standards to address identified skills shortages

Note - all beneficiaries must be working towards a recognised qualification - most to achieve this in the lifetime of the project

Target Group:

SME (i.e. organisation which employs less than 250, has less than 40 million Euro annual turnover, and not more than one quarter owned by firms that would not qualify by this criteria) employees, particularly those with outdated or outmoded skills, and in those sectors likely to experience further decline

Expected Outcomes: projects to contribute to the following -

Beneficiaries registered as working towards a nationally qualification

Beneficiaries progressing into further education, training or other learning

Cross-Cutting Themes:

All projects should incorporate strategies for equal opportunities, ICT and sustainable development. See LSC Bidding Round Prospectus for further guidelines.

Remember the deadline for this bidding round is 5.00 pm Friday 10th January
LSC Contact if you have any queries, and for Prospectus and Application form: Co-financing Team on 0845 019 4166