An introduction to EU funding - Maureen Walby

Maureen Walby February 2014 Kent

EUROPEAN FUNDING 2014-2020

An overview of what EU funding is and how we can use it for our projects.


Introductions

2 minutes please….

A bit about your organisationMain client groupPast EU funding experienceProblems & pleasures you’ve had

using EU fundsAmbitions for future projectsWhat do you want to talk about today?



EUROPEAN FUNDING 2014-2020

Where does it come from? What can we do with it?

Match funding? Transnational Partnerships? Local, regional, national partnerships?

How can we get some? What happens then?

Do we really want some???



GDP Member States


Main points to cover… What is European Funding

and where does it come from?

How relevant is it for us?

How can it help us?

What are the different programmes and how can we use them?

What do we have to do to win some European money?

How do we manage it once we’ve won some?

National (Structural) Funds

ESF Community Grants

Role of Local Economic Partnerships (LEPs)

Transnational Partnerships

Erasmus Plus

Creative Europe

Other Direct from Brussels funds


Key Principles

TransparencyValue for MoneyAdded Value Sound match-funding Justification / analysisCredibilityManagementMonitoring & ReportingEqual OpportunitiesSustainability &

Environment

Environment Inclusive - partnershipsClear ObjectivesResults ImpactEvaluationMainstreamingPolicy InfluencePublicityClear Audit Trail


Match Funding

All EU funding must be matched

No double-funding Can be from any non-EU

source Much comes pre-matched Volunteer time can be used

as match For this notional values are

used

Sometimes 100% funding comes from Brussels – but exceptionally

Direct grants ratio match varies.

All match funding must be certificated and must be real cash (salaries count as cash or volunteer time


UK Structural Funds UK Management 2014-2020

ESF. ERDF. RDF. Agri/Fisheries6/7 year programming periods Negotiations with Brussels – priorities, regions,

targets etc.Programme delivery – January 2014Notional allocations to regions – delivery

mechanisms vary

delivered through 38 regional LEPs


Regional Priorities & LEPs

“Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) will bring together councils and business on an equal footing with one voice, replacing the current Regional Development Agencies (RDAs).

Vince Cable 2010


Questions

What do you know about the LEP?

Have you had any engagement with your LEP?

Is there a VCS rep on your LEP?

Is there good contact with your DCLG local rep?

Are you likely to be working across the sectors defined by the Growth Strategy?


2014-2020 new 7 year programme

Began on 01.01.2014ESF, ERDF & RDF plus Fisheries etc

Community Grants – part of ESF – match funding by National Lottery ?

Scope for VCS, not just with Community Grants!


Structural Funds

ESF is for the development of the workforce, raising skills, developing jobs & providing training etc

LEPs can choose to offer integrated funds

ERDF is for capital projects, infrastructure, business development, communication, etc.


National Priorities ESF

Economic DevelopmentDeveloping businessDeveloping a skilled work-forceRegional competitiveness

20% ring-fenced for over-coming the problems of poverty & exclusion


ESF Community Grants

GuidelinesThe application processThe “scoring” systemThe approval processAdministrationReportingCase Studies

Applications open now in most English regions but examples given relate to the Surrey CA led consortia of which Kent is part.


Project delivery

Local action – designed for small groupsContracted to each county with each

county/area and having its own allocation of funds and local staff team

Local board make decisionsCapacity building cash available too

Simplified process for administration of projects But still top-heavy in admin!


Progression towards work….Can be confidence buildingCan be work experienceCan be learning new skills

The aim is to reach those people farthest away from the labour market and to make them more work ready.

£15,000 – projects must end by April 2015

Community Grants Objectives


Priority has been given to groups who work with:Lone parentsPeople with disabilities / health issuesPeople aged 50+People from ethnic minorities / diverse groupsWomen


Other Programmes - Transnational

Erasmus Plus Creative Europe Interreg Leader Plus Daphne Life Energy Social Justice Horizon 2020 Enlargement

(pre-accesion)

Social Innovation Progress Micro Finance

Direct to Brussels DGs – 23 DG’s!


ERASMUS PLUS

The new Lifelong Learning Programme


Replaces….

Grundtvig Leonardo da Vinci Transversal Comenius Erasmus Jean Monet Tempus

Some changes, some parts discontinued


Larger funds, merging programmes

The number of partners and funding will vary depending on the project’s aims and activities. Strategic Partnerships can receive a maximum of 150,000 euro in funding per year.


Open to all…

Open to all organisations active in the field of adult learning.

Possible to work in multi-sector partnerships

Only one project in each Key Action per organisation per year.


Just 3 Key Actions

Key Action 1 Mobility Closing date 17th

March 2014 11.00am UK time

Individual mobility, applications only through organisations

Key Action 2 Strategic

Partnerships Closing date 30th

April 2014 at 11.00am UK time.

Key Action 3 Policy Reform


Two types of “activity”

divided into main two types of activity.

Decentralised activities for the UK are run by the British Council, in partnership with Ecorys UK.

Centralised activities are run by the European Commission’s Executive Agency which is based in Brussels.


Erasmus Plus Key Action 1

Learning Mobility of Individuals is all about providing opportunities for individuals to improve their skills, enhance their employability and gain cultural awareness.


KA 1 Decentralised UK National Agency: British Council

Mobility for Higher EducationVocational Education Learners and StaffSchool StaffAdult Education StaffYoung People & Youth Workers


Key Action 1 - Mobility

Open to organisations only –individual mobility enables organisations to offer structured study,

work experience, job shadowing, training and teaching opportunities to staff and learners.

2 weeks to 2 months in another country covers the five fields of Higher Education,

vocational education and training, schools, adult education and youth.

target groups and activities vary by field.


KA 1 –Centralised (Brussels)

Joint Masters Degrees

Erasmus + Masters Loan Schemes

Large-scale European Voluntary Service Events


More than one destination

Several “flows” possible within each application

Depending on field, could include staff and Learners

Could be work shadowing, professional development, certified courses etc.

2 weeks to 2 months duration


“Unit Price” budgets

Driven by activity

Calculated on numbers, destination, length of mobility etc.

Simplified accounting and reporting system

Evidence of journey, certificate of attendance.


ERASMUS PLUS KEY ACTION 2

Co-operation for Innovation and Exchange of Good Practices

enabling organisations to work together in order to improve their provision for learners and share innovative practices


KA 2 – National Agency: Ecorys

aims to increase the positive impact of European activities at all levels to ensure benefits for the individuals, organisations and countries involved in projects.


KA 2 – 6 fields at national level

Strategic Partnerships for…Higher EducationVocational Education & TrainingSchoolsAdult EducationYouthMore than one field


KA 2 Centralised Activities Direct to Brussels

Knowledge Alliances

Skills Alliances

Capacity Building in the field of Youth


Unit Costs

Calculated through drop-down menu format

Driven by activity & location

Max 150,000 euros per year x 2 or 3 years

Lead partner applies on behalf of whole partnership - contracts with other partners.

Simplified administration

Minimum 3 programme countries

Can have 2 UK based partners

Deadline 30th April 11.00am UK time for KA2


Who can apply?

Any UK organisation involved in adult education

Can be lead (Coordinator) or as a partner. Coordinator makes the application for funding.

UK organisations leading a project must apply to the UK National Agency on behalf of the partnership.


Key Action 3 – Policy Reform

covers any type of activity aimed at supporting & facilitating the modernisation of education and training systems.

fields of higher education, vocational education and training, schools, adult learning & Youth.

supports strategic action across European to reform systems & influence policy.


Inter-active forms only….

Applications must be submitted by 11am UK time on 30 April 2014. There will only be one deadline in 2014. Projects will be able to start on 1 September 2014.

No paper this time!


How to apply

www.erasmusplus.org.uk

form will be available in February. In the meantime, you can:

Use the model e-form for Strategic Partnerships for Adult Education as a guide to start planning your application.

Use the Distance Calculator to calculate travel costs for your project.

Register your organisation on ECAS and the Participant Portal.


Example Projects

Academy of Community Entrepreneurs (ACE)

Compared structure, operations & targets of social enterprises in each country

2 x UK partners

Sweden

France

Czech Republic


Example projects

Into Caring Europe

Compared legal, fiscal, social aspects plus state support available to older people and those with disabilities

2 x UK partners

France

Spain

Slovakia


Greener Futures for Young People – Progress Programme

Direct to Brussels

One-year project, 300,000 euros to share with partners.

Promoting careers in the VCS sector for able, keen young people

Social enterprise training, creation & progression to self employment or set up of new community enterprise.


Contact

Maureen Walby

[email protected]

[email protected]

077030 48602 or 0033 5 49 72 52 97

Economy & Finance

An introduction to EU funding - Maureen Walby