ESF COMMUNITY GRANTSCURRENT AND FUTURE

John Hacking

Network for Europe

Current ESF Community Grants Programme 2007 - 13

• ESF community grants are grants of up to £12,000 which enable small VCS organisations to work with most disadvantaged and excluded people.

• The grants have a local focus and seek to move people closer to the labour market.

They support a wide range of activities including:

• initial help with basic skills

• taster work experience, including voluntary work

• training, advice and counselling

• confidence building.

Target Groups

• People with disabilities or health conditions (inc. those with learning difficulties, mental health issues or drug and alcohol dependency problems)

• People aged 50 or over and seeking employment

• People from ethnic minorities

• Women

• Lone parents

• Because of the nature of the target groups, project outcomes involve progression towards a job or further training, rather than the immediate achievement of a job or qualification.

• With the exception of London, the Skills Funding Agency has responsibility for Community Grants.

• CGs are delivered locally through Grant Co-ordinating bodies (GCBs)

• Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly Cornwall Development Company Ltd

• East Midlands Nottingham and Nottinghamshire VCS Learning and Skills Consortium

• East of England The Consultancy Home Counties Ltd• London London Councils• North East County Durham Community Federation• North West WEA: Learning For Life• South East Surrey Community Action• South West The Learning Curve• W Midlands Black Country Consortium Ltd• W Midlands Heart of England Community Foundation• Yorks & The Humber Humber Learning Consortium

Community Grants in The NW

• GCB in NW 2011-13 is the WEA.

• GCB Role:Develop & manage a Community Grants Programme.

Engage key stakeholders in the delivery model.

Develop & publicise an application process.

Receive , assess and select applications for grants andprovide support to grant recipients.

Monitor & evaluate outcomes & performance.

Evaluation of NW CGs 2011-13

165 grants allocated

3575 participants

£11,115 average grant award in NW

Projects21%

38% 17%

62%

37%

People with disabilities

People over 50

People from ethnic minority background

Lone parents

Female

Participants

Participant Progression

Further informal learning

Accredited learning

Work experience or placement

Volunteering

Job

Self-employment/own business/CIC/social enterprise

Unknown

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

243

205

81

260

125

12

315

Case Studies

Northmoor Community Assoc. (Manchester)

• Training & building confidence in participants to progress and engage with employment opportunities.

• Increasing migrants' participation in employment.

• Developing lifelong learning

• £12,000

Restore Rochdale Enterprise Skills

• Practical advice and support from local entrepreneurs inspiring local women to become self-employed.

• Supporting self employment and new businesses.

• £11,085

• 3tc Cloud Computing Course (Merseyside)

• A blended learning approach, enhanced by peer support, enabling participants to acquire and apply basic IT skills

• Promoting education and training throughout working life• • Improving equal access to employment

• Developing lifelong learning

• £12,000

Power Up (Wolverhampton)

• Training tailored to the needs of ethnic minority women

• Working through local community networks, the project reached individuals who are furthest away from the labour market, improving their employability and confidence.

• £11,700

Wyldwoods (Shropshire)• Working towards employability: Unlocking the potential of

disabled people.

• Wyldwoods received an ESF community grant to deliver a rural training project.

• The project aimed to empower the individual through developing skills, improved self-understanding, value and responsibility in preparation for employment.

• £12,000

Rise 2 the Top! (Birmingham)

• Helping young people develop their business, self-development and media skills to start their own business, gain employment, or go into further education

• £10,387

The Future

• BIS Guidance to LEPs June 2013

• One reference to “Supporting local ‘Community Grant’ type activity. “ (p.43)

• No mention in any of the six 1st wave Opt In Prospectuses

QUESTIONS• Do LEPs want a Community Grant Programme?

• Will there be a programme in the English ESF OP anyway?

• How do LEPs achieve a CG programme in their EIS Strategies

• What form would it take?

• Scale/Reach?