Bidding for Funds and Resources

“Funding from Europe” Morag Kerr - WoSCoP

European Structural Funds - European Social Fund (E.S.F.)• For the development of people• Priority towards students from most

deprived areas• Horizontal themes of “information

society” and “lifelong learning”• Promotion of “information literacy”

as a core skill – and a key employability factor.

• Still opportunities under Objective 2 programme for 2000-6.

• Maximum Intervention of 45%

Funding Direct from EC Leonardo Da Vinci Programme• To improve skills and competencies

of people in initial vocational training to support employability.

• To improve quality of and access to vocational education for adaptability (esp. in ICTs)

• To promote the contribution of vocational training to innovation – particularly to improve competitiveness and entrepreneurship

• Particular emphasis on innovative guidance and counselling projects.

Funding direct from EC - Socrates Programme -

actions include:• Comenius – school education• Erasmus – higher education• Gruntvig – adult education &

education pathways• Lingua – learning European

Languages• Minerva – ICT and ODL in

education• May fund up to 75% of costs.

Socrates Programme - Aims Broad Aims:• The promotion of lifelong learning• Development of a “Europe of

Knowledge

Specifically:• Strengthen European dimension in

education• Improve knowledge of foreign

languages• Promote cooperation & mobility• Encourage use of new

technologies• Promote equality of opportunity

Hints and Tips Don’t be afraid to ask for help

• Is there someone within organisation to help you?

Contact the Funding Agency• www.socleoyouth.be• www.wsep.co.uk• www.objective3.org• They are there to support you.

Find a “buddy”• Seek out someone who has already

done it before. Read all the guidance and rules

• MUST for person who will complete the application form and manage the project.

Project OutlineBasic details of who, where,

why, what and when.

Partnership

Equal Opportunities.

Sustainability

Lifelong Learning

Evidence of Demand

Empowerment

Information Society

GCNS – Opening Doors Project In partnership with SIMON

Community Target group is young, homeless

people Bad educational experience, do

not identify with idea of learning or training

Very detailed, prolonged programme of individual support, high level of core skills development

Learn to study and to use the learning resources

Key to improving employability

Anniesland College – Steps into FE project Designed to support

unaccompanied minor asylum seekers.

Specific issues such as the need to have support programme which includes language support, IT literacy, trauma counselling, adaptation of skills and learning from home country.

Project combined high level of one-to-one guidance and counselling with vocational training and work experience.

Multiple partners providing different expertise.

Aim is to improve access.

Clydebank College – staff exchange

Host group of tutors from Lithuania who work with socially excluded students

To learn about tailoring provision to meet the needs of different groups

To understand what steps need to be taken to reduce barriers to entry

To understand the resources required by the organisation to train and support staff to change their approach to meet these needs.

Moving to Client Centred Approach.

WoSCoP – Online Construction Programme In partnership with 10 colleges

and Govan Initiative Will deliver on-line learning

programme in Construction, level 2

Gruntvig Programme will allow sharing of expertise across 6 Member States

Adapt and adjust the training programme to meet different needs of each country

Promoting new learning methods, techniques, materials across Europe.

Access and support outside of classroom by support staff.

What makes a good project? Programmes for excluded groups

should combine elements – specially designed support programme, combined with element of vocational training, etc.

Different kinds of support for different target groups.

Information Literacy should be regarded as a core skill – can be included in all E.S.F. projects

Sharing expertise across EU – identify which countries have good practice, try to combine partners so that everyone learns something from the others.

Managing your project Getting the funding is only the first step.

(And sometimes the easiest) High level of administration and

checking for projects from EU Keep track of every penny spent and

every minute spent with the student/trainee

You can be audited up to 7 years after the project has been delivered

Keep the Funding body informed of any changes – financial and operational. You must ask for their approval to make significant changes

Keep time sheets for all staff. Reputation becomes very important.

And Finally….. Don’t let the bureaucracy put you off. If you have good ideas, to support

learning and/or students, there will always be funding to assist.

You might need to be the one who “carries the torch” on behalf of the learners.

But achievement is all the more rewarding when this is the case.

Next EU Programme 2007-13 will prioritise “Knowledge Economy” and “Information Society” programmes – greater need to ensure IT literacy especially for Higher Level skills.

Good Luck.