Big Lottery Fund: Building Better Opportunities (ESF Opt-In)

Programme Development Phase

Progress Event

Thursday 2nd April 2015Radisson Blu Hotel, Liverpool

Programme Development Phase: Purpose

• Ensure widespread awareness of Building Better Opportunities

• Inform VCSE orgs of requirements, risks & responsibilities

• Provide opportunity to discuss LEP priorities and local need

• Develop positive working relationships between organisations (lead to good quality applications)

• Named contacts:– VOLA: Stuart McGrory stuart.mcgrory@volamerseyside.org.uk – LCVS: Colin Heaney colin.heaney@lcvs.org.uk

– NFE: Andy Churchill andy.churchill@networkforeurope.eu

To date, we have…

• Raised awareness and consulted on competing priorities for BBO funding

• 5 events (Nov/Dec-14)• Updates, website, etc.• Commissioned research• Regular liaison with LEP and BIG Lottery Fund• Involvement with relevant LEP sub-groups and

committees, etc.

Key achievements so far

• Engaged large number of organisations• Consulted on local Social Inclusion priorities– 5 events: 113 organisations, 132 people

• Shared findings with LEP & Lottery to inform thinking/ decisions for BBO investment priorities

• Successfully lobbied LCR LEP to increase investment through the Big Lottery opt-in – Originally £1.66m (£1m ESF / £0.66m Lottery)– Now £4.16m (£2.5m ESF / £1.66 Lottery)

• Influenced wider ESIF investment priorities

Social Inclusion Priorities:Common Themes from Consultation

1. Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) models – i.e. funded (paid) jobs for priority groups

2. Digital inclusion3. Financial inclusion4. Health (in particular, mental health & those

with acute and L-T, limiting conditions)5. Enterprise (in particular, Social Ent.)6. Volunteering as a pathway to employment

LCR’s BBO Investment Priorities

1. Financial Inclusion2. Digital Inclusion

• Two separate specifications/ projects likely (rather than one larger project spanning both)

• However, possible/ likely that project proposals will need to be inter-linked

• % split £ (FI:DI) TBC

Other Priorities and where they fitPriority Included in other ESIF investment

portfolios / procurement routes ?

ILMs • Yes - open commissioning (need ‘match’)• ‘Calls’ recently launched by DWP on Gov

website – stage 1 deadline 22nd May• Definite opportunity for VCSE sector –

collaboration required

Health (mental health, L-T/ acute conditions)

• Yes – will form part of future procurement through DWP – launch date TBC

• Don’t need match• VCSE sector opportunities likely – collaboration

likely to be an advantage

Other Priorities and where they fitPriority Included in other ESIF investment

portfolios / procurement routes ?Social Enterprise

• Not explicitly SE – though lobbying ongoing• Implicit in:1. Current open calls (Enterprise Support for YP)2. Future ERDF ‘enterprise’ calls

Volunteering - as a pathway to employment

• Not explicitly included as specific investment priority – despite much lobbying

• Seen as a ‘how not a what’• Therefore forms part of specifications for a

range of delivery, e.g. - Current open calls - targeted support to

tackle L-T worklessness (adult)- FI/DI (BBO)

Financial Inclusion: Outline Spec.(from Big Lottery Fund website)

Targeted FI activity focused on activities that aim to ensure residents become financial capable and have the confidence and skills needed to choose, access and use financial products and services suitable to their individual’s needs.

Projects will ensure:• Greater access to appropriate and affordable financial services and products.• Increased skills and confidence to use financial products and services and

will continue to apply these skills and confidence• Provision engages those most in need• Improving financial literacy• Focus is on preventative measures to stop people getting into financial

difficulties, as well addressing existing debt• Intervention at a point that can make most impact and have a lasting

difference• Peer mentoring and volunteering opportunities.

Digital Inclusion: Outline Spec.(from Big Lottery Fund website)

Targeted DI activity that is focused on activities that improve the skills and confidence, connectivity and accessibility to digital technology for unemployed and/or economically inactive residents.

Projects will focus on:

Improving the skills, competence and confidence Improving the access to digital technologies Supporting with costs attached to accessing digital technologies Motivating to develop basic online skills Peer mentoring and volunteering opportunities

F.I./D.I. Research:Scope & Methodology

• Why are FI & DI important?– Inclusion– Economic growth & competitiveness

• Capturing local opinion and reflecting on what’s gone before• Not re-inventing the wheel in terms of academic research!• Desk-based, literature review• Interviews with local stakeholders, including

– CABs and advisory agencies– Housing Associations– Credit Unions– Local Authorities

• Note: Not linked to development of Lottery specifications. Rather a reference document to highlight local need, inform development of partnerships and local solutions.

Research: Initial Findings• Increasing numbers of people at risk of financial exclusion

– General labour market trends, self-emp, lower wages, 0 hr contracts.

• Benefits changes: big impact on both FI & DI• Access to finance restricted: especially in poorer areas• Tightening FCA regulation: opp & threat for local FI providers • CUs offer an alternative but need high volume of depositors

– Driving conglomeration, merger, etc. – positive & negatives

• CU drive towards technology – links to DI• Micro-finance: limited impact compared to other countries

– Need more? Either through CUs or other locally driven solutions

• Feed in your views – deadline 17th April• Kevin Peacock: peacock@hope.ac.uk

Building Better Opportunities UpdateThursday 2nd April 2015

Radisson Blu Hotel, Liverpool

Next Steps & Timescales

Next steps/ timescalesPDF phase (local)

You• Decide if you have a realistic role to play

– If so, how?– Potential lead applicant or delivery partner?– Let us know!

Us• Keep people updated• Complete research• Facilitate development of local partnerships

– DI / FI event 20th May – joining instructions to follow– Capacity building

Building Better Opportunities:Main Programme

• Open, competitive process (EU competition rules) • Potentially several leads/ applicants?• But we advocate/ will support a coordinated approach

(rather than a huge proliferation of competing bids)• Remember, leads need:

– Ability to manage large (£multi-million) partnership projects– Satisfy Lottery due diligence and ESF delivery requirements– Relevant track record– Capability of developing a cohesive, strategic, local

approach, that meets local needs

BBO main programme: timescales

LCR LEP is planning for 1st round • Opens early June-15 (8th?)• Stage 1 submission – by end July-15• Development funding (£30-50k?) – support shortlisted

stage 1 applicants to develop full applications.• Stage 2 submission – Jan-16• Grant awards – March-16• Delivery – April-16 onwards• Technical support and capacity building

– National technical support contract – starts stage 1, continues through to project start-up (1st, poss 2nd claim)

Building Better Opportunities UpdateThursday 2nd April 2015

Radisson Blu Hotel, Liverpool

Capacity Building

Capacity Building• Partnership development• Other activities TBC– Demand led– Accessible delivery methods– Limited resources!– Signposting to other support

• Further support from Lottery BBO Toolkit (available June) – Likely to be very specific support for applicants

e.g. around ESF rules & evidence requirements– Our support needs to ‘fit’, not duplicate

Capacity Building• Possible topics:Intro. to ESF requirements

Risks and responsibilitiesMonitoring, reporting and audit requirementsESF cross-cutting themes (E&D, Sustainable Development & Health)

Preparation for due diligence/ PQQ criteria

Impact Measurement & Quality Improvement

Other ideas? – e.g. within Financial / Digital Inclusion To nicky.crosby@volamerseyside.org.uk

Q&A