21 November 2011

Unlocking Effective EU ResourcesHow to maximise the use of ESF

Sandra Turnersandra.turner@ncvo-vol.org.uk

Content

• ESF 2007-13: overview• Accessing ESF 2011-2013• The way forward post - 2013

ESF in England 2007-13Monetary Value • Over £2.5 billion ESF + £2.5

billion national funding• Convergence Objective in

Cornwall & Isle of Scilly (£164 m)• Regional Competitiveness and

Employment Objective for the rest of England (£2.4billion)

• CO- FINANCED by national CFOs e.g. DWP, Skills Funding Agency and NOMS & local CFOS (e.g. local authorities)

To support:• The unemployed & most disadvantaged enter

and remain in the labour market• Workforce skills development• CSOs participation in the programme through

Technical Assistance funds• Innovative solutions through the ITM programme• Small CSOs through Community Grants

Programme• The reduction of poverty and promotion of social

justice

England :

Priority 1: extending employment opportunities;Priority 2: developing a skilled and adaptable workforce;Priority 3: Technical Assistance

Cornwall:

Priority 4: tackling barriers to employment;Priority 5: Improving the skills of the local workforce;Priority 6: Technical Assistance

ESF 2007-13 & changing policy context

Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Jobs (2000-2010)

Focus on growth, competitiveness and 80% employment rate• Close alignment with domestic strategies on employment and skills• Explicit focus on efficiency (hard outcomes vs. soft outcomes)• From direct bidding to co-finance to Open Competitive Tendering

The economic crisis (2008)• Increased participation of those closer to labour market (JSA) vs. those furthest away (IB/IS)

as a direct result of the recession

Europe 2020 (2010) for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth• Cohesion policy: strategic report 2010: Progress on delivering the priority of social

inclusion is slow• ESF focus on ‘Workless Families’ and Child Poverty reduction (NRP)

ESF 2011-13: what opportunities for CSOs to engage?

1) As Sub-Contractors or a consortia DWP, Skills Funding Agency and NOMSSome opportunities through local authorities

2) Direct Access to ESF Community Grants ProgrammeSome Opportunities through local authorities

3) Technical Assistance to support the sector participate but there is the on-going challenge of sourcing local match funding

Accessing ESF 2011-13: national CFOs

• Skills Funding Agency aims to improve the employability and skills of employed and unemployed people by supporting education and vocational training schemes and learning for adults and young people (NEET)

• Department of Work and Pensions supports disadvantaged people claiming Incapacity Benefit or Income Support through voluntary participation in the Work Programme and the Programme for Families with Multiple Problems

• National Offender Management Service (NOMS) aims to enhance the employability prospects of offenders by bridging the existing gaps between offenders and mainstream education, skills and employment services before, during and after release from custody

Accessing ESF 2011-13Procurement mechanisms:

Skills Funding Agency Approved College and Training Organisations Register (ACTOR) &

lead contractor model (Minimum Contract Value £500K)

DWP Related Support Services Framework (ERSS) & prime contracting

model

National Offender Management Service (NOMS) procures funds through the prime contracting model

Accessing ESF 2011-13Community Grants - Grants of £12K to help people access the

labour market for small voluntary and community sector organisations

• Supporting a range of activities, aimed at assisting the disadvantaged or excluded to move closer to the labour market, focusing on individuals who have difficulty accessing ESF or mainstream provision outcomes

• Based on progression rather than achievement of jobs or qualifications

• Activities include first contact engagement, confidence building, help with basic skills, taster work experience, volunteering ,training, advice, counselling, job search

Current issues in accessing ESF

• Larger contracts limit opportunities to access • Imperfect relationships between primes and subs (contract

design, capacity building, delays in payments, length of contracts, referrals volumes…)

• Demanding due diligence processes• Provision narrow, prescriptive limited room for innovation• Cherry picking, creaming and parking • Payment by results model puts strain on cash flow• Not enough rewarding of soft outcomes• Risk of becoming mission-drift• Difficulties in sourcing match funding for Technical Assistance

ESF 2014-2020 The way forward

‘Distinctive Place’ for CSOs in the Structural Funds•A Social Inclusion Priority in ESF•Targeted interventions & appropriate outcomes for those furthest away from the labour market •Local Development, Social Innovation and Transnational dimension •Enable more flexibility outside CFOs and the Work programme (e.g. Wales and Scotland)

‘Enabling Funding Environment’ for direct access to the Structural Funds •Expanded Global Grants Programme; •Volunteer time as match funding in kind; •Smaller contract packages

‘Strategic involvement’ of CSOs in design, implementation and evaluation of the funds•Accessibility of Technical Assistance•Quality of Partnership•Improved evaluation

21 November 2011

Unlocking Effective EU ResourcesGet in touch!

Sandra Turnersandra.turner@ncvo-vol.org.ukwww.ncvo-vol.org.uk/europe