Social Inclusion Mini Group

Marches LEP Networks Workshop

Welcome & Introduction

• Housekeeping• Today’s Agenda• Why are we here?• What do we mean by networks?

Networks? Partnerships? Groups?

Interconnected organisationsShare knowledge, skills, resources

Have a particular purpose

EU Structural and Investment Funds

• European Context• The Europe 2020 strategy has a goal of promoting social inclusion,

in particular through the reduction of poverty;• To lift at least 20milion people across the EU out of the risk of

poverty and social exclusion• National Policy Context• Governments Strategy for Social Justice “ Social Justice:

Transforming Lives” sets out the commitment to giving individuals and families facing multiple disadvantage the support and tools they need to turn their lives around.

Social Inclusion

Social Inclusion – 4 Sub-Priorities (with indicative activities)

• 5.1 - Provide the means through which under-represented groups BECOME WORK READY, and are able to access learning, training and job opportunities

• 5.2 - Engaging and supporting under-represented groups to enable them to OVERCOME BARRIERS to employment

• 5.3 - Develop capacity at a local level which SUPPORTS AND EMPOWERS under-represented groups

• 5.4 - Target GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS with high levels of unemployment, low education attainment levels and low income through a Community Led Local Development approach. This may only occur in areas that are within the top 20% most deprived nationally, which in Shropshire only includes parts of North Shrewsbury.

Voluntary and Community Sector

•VCS Leading development of Strategic Activity 5 – Social Inclusion•VCS Mini-group established•VCS wider stakeholder events to broaden input•Social inclusion also in other Strategic Priorities•VCS will be represented in the Marches LEP governance•Equality a cross cutting theme, with sustainability

Positive feedback on Marches collaborative approach with sector

Work done to date…

• Mini Group Establishment and regular Meetings

• Stakeholder events• Social Inclusion Champion• ESIF Sub Committee• Opt In – BIG Lottery• Networking events• Other themes

•Only for ESF and not for any delegated grants•Subject to clarity of opt-in and agreement between Big Lottery and Marches LEP• Marches LEP has agreed in principle to opt-in, initially for first two years•Potential to hold back 20% for local calls and small grants – are we confident of local match funding?•Will not match fund CLLD

Big Lottery opt-in

Building Better Opportunities

• To support the ESF theme ‘Promoting Social Inclusion and Combating Poverty’.

• Development funding– Awareness raising– Promoting opportunities– Bringing stakeholders together– Enabling new partnerships– Point of contact– Work with Big Lottery

•ESIF Strategy submitted to government January 2014•Specific feedback from Growth Programme Board March 2014•Marches LEP responded May 2014•Negotiations between EU Commission and UK government on Partnership Agreement and ESF and ERDF Operational Plan•Changes have been made to the national priorities•DCLG will now manage both ESF and ERDF•LEPs are reviewing ESIF strategies in light of these changes•EU and UK government need to agree Partnership Agreement, ERDF and ESF Operational Plan before ESIF sign off

ESIF – progress with sign off

Timetable

•April 2015 - Approval of ESIF (ERDF, ESF and EAFRD) UK Operational Programmes by European Commission

•June 2015 – Launch of UK Funding Programmes (it is possible that calls for applications / tenders will be invited in advance)

•August / September 2015 – Realistic start date of activity on the ground

•Big Lottery Opt-in – first 2 years ESIF Social Inclusion funding less 20%•Marches Open Calls – 20% not allocated to Big Lottery

– Small grants scheme so individuals entering work can access work clothing/shoes, essential job related equipment, entry certificates etc

– New approaches to address barriers to employment, such as transport solutions, digital exclusion, carer responsibilities etc

Summary of first tranche of calls

Underrepresented GroupsSocially excluded/marginalised groups (referred to as underrepresentedgroups) include, but are not limited to…•Young people not in education, employment and•Training (NEET/Pre-NEET)•Offenders and ex-offenders•Romany and travellers•Lone parents•Over 50s•The working poor•Families with multiple and complex needs•Homeless•Disabled (physical and those with mental health issues) •Carers•Black and minority, ethnic; lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT);•The families of these groups

It also includes those living in areas of deprivation and groups with specific needs which are currently hidden.

Workshop

1. What does your network do? 2. What is the scope of the work that your

network does?3. Can you identify the gaps?

4. Is there any local or other money available for potential match?

Where next?

• What we have gathered from the workshop will influence work

• Further discussions with BIG Lottery• Open Calls• Programmes not projects• Local people = sustainable projects and bigger

impact

Need more information?

• Webpage – www.vcsvoice.org/what-we-do/eu-funding-2

• Any questions contact:Kate MacDonald on 01743 252740 or email

katherine.macdonald@shropshire.gov.uk • Stakeholder Newsletter – ask Kate to join

circulation list.