esf community grants programme second round cornwall and the isles of scilly catherine roberts fund...

ESF Community Grants Programme

Second RoundCornwall and the Isles of Scilly

Catherine Roberts

Fund Manager

Where does the money come from?

• The Community Grants Programme is funded by the European Social Fund and the Skills Funding Agency as part of the Convergence Programme

Main Aim

• TO RAISE THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EMPLOYABILITY OF THE HARDEST TO REACH GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS

BY SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO DELIVER

RELEVANT ACTIVITY IN THIER AREA

Target & Priority beneficiaries

• Target beneficiaries – unemployed and economically inactive aged 18yrs or over who are from the hardest to reach communities and who have difficulties accessing mainstream provision and/or ESF.

• Priorities for participation within that:– People with disabilities or health conditions – Lone Parents– People aged 50 or over– Females

What can be funded?

• All activities must help an individual to develop their skills and help them progress towards employment or further learning.

• Broad range of specific activity that can be funded as long as it meets the above.

Example activities

• Help with basic skills• Taster work experience and voluntary

work• Job search assistance• Confidence building and personal

development• First contact engagement activities –

helping overcome specific barriers• More project examples at the end

Who can apply?

• Constituted voluntary and community sector organisations who are local i.e. based and financially managed in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.With:- Organisation bank account- Relevant organisation policies e.g. Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding Policies

General Information & Criteria

• Total value of grants available c £560,000• Programme start – Summer 2011?• All projects to complete by

September 2013• All projects must meet aim of the

programme• Outcomes of individuals are

monitored

General Information & Criteria

• Total project costs no more than £12,000

• Grants are available up to 100% • Minimum grant = £1,000• Maximum grant = £12,000 pa• Project must not have started and

should not be longer than 12 months

General Information & Criteria

• Must demonstrate local need and demand

• Must be new activity • Projects must benefit the target

individuals• Progression of individuals must be

demonstrated

Progression outcomes?

• Types of expected outcomes are:

– People in work after leaving the programme

– People undertaking further learning or job search activity

– People with improved work related skills e.g. improved confidence, time keeping, literacy etc

Key Features of the Fund• Support provided both pre and

post application• Regular decision making meetings

– bi monthly/quarterly• Payments in stages – and linked to

evidence of spend and submission of monitoring information

• Encouraging use of other progression routes e.g. next step

EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS

My top tips

• Be clear about who you are helping, why and how.

• Read everything carefully – helpnotes, contracts etc

• If you’re not sure – ASK!• Be prepared to fill in lots of paperwork –

this is EU money!• It’s a lot easier if you do it as you go

along rather than wait until the end!

Next Steps?

• Decide whether the CGP is right for you and your project.

• Watch out for information about the programme

• If you’re interested – give me your contact details

My contact details

Catherine Roberts

Fund Manager

Business and Skills Directorate

Cornwall Development Company

Tel: 01209 611106

Email: catherine.roberts@cornwalldevelopmentcompany

.co.uk