Welcome to the eighth European Social Fund (ESF) bulletin for Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) in the Swindon, Wiltshire, Bournemouth & Poole and Dorset. This bulletin summarises current ESF developments, with the intention of connecting regional policy makers with frontline VCOs.
Your feedback and comments are very welcome.
Contact details are available at the end of this newsletter.
ESF: Is Consortia-Bidding the Answer?
The regional Voluntary Value conference held on 3rd December in Taunton brought together around 80 participants from voluntary and community organisations, commissioning bodies and ESF prime contractors. The purpose of the conference was to explore opportunities and barriers for voluntary and community organisations seeking to become ESF subcontractors.
Highlights from the Executive Summary include:
- There is insufficient financial incentive for providers and sub-contractors to work with individuals with more complex needs.
- Providers need to promote the options for sub-contracting through an open and competitive process.
- Voluntary and community organisations (VCOs) should consider consortia-bidding in response to ESF tenders.
Click in link for full Report
VCOs Organise Locally to Respond to ESF
Following the successful regional conference above, Voluntary Value partners are organising a series of follow-up meetings at a more local level. Attendance is free and open to all voluntary and community organisations who seek closer collaboration on skills and employment and on delivery of the ESF in particular.
The five up-coming events are as follows:
- Bristol and West of England, organised by Voscur, 4th February, 11.00am. The meeting will familiarise local voluntary and community sector organisations who work with employment and skills with the European Social Fund (ESF) agenda. Further details available here
- Gloucester, organised by GAVCA, 5th February, 12.30-2.30.The meeting will address whether voluntary and community organisations would consider consortia-bidding for ESF tenders. To book your place contact Hannah Gorf Email or call 01452 522 600
- Plymouth, organised by Plymouth Third Sector Consortium and SWF, 3rd March, 10.00am, at Wolseley Community Building.
Contact Simon by Email for more details. - Chippenham, organised by Learning Curve, 16th March. Contact Jaclyn by Email for further details.
- Dorset (location to be confirmed), organised by Learning Curve, 27th April.
Contact Marisa by Email for further details.
Following on from the Voluntary Value input at the recent Bournemouth and Poole Volunteer Centre Conference, planning for the event in Dorset is underway and details will be sent out shortly.
Voluntary Value Briefing
A new 8-page Voluntary Value Briefing aims to open up ESF for those voluntary and community organisations who seek better engagement with it. It describes the current methods used by ESF, the coordination of the VCO sector’s response to it, and highlights where the opportunities exist for 2010. For a hardcopy, send an email using the contact information at the bottom of the page.
Download a softcopy here (1MB PDF)
Champion the voluntary and community sector! – deadline this Friday!
Help to champion the contribution of the voluntary and community sector in its contribution to ESF delivery. ESF is running an awards ceremony on 18th March in Exeter for individuals who have substantially benefitted from ESF provision. The Voluntary Value project is seeking nominations for individuals who have been substantially assisted by ESF-funded voluntary and community action. The nominee categories are:
- Young Achiever (14-19 years)
- Personal Achievement
- Employment and Skills
- Personal Contribution
- Workforce Development
- Employer of the Year
- Tutor/Mentor of the Year
Nomination forms are available here and the deadline for submission is 5 February 2010.
European Commission Requests Evidence on Third Sector Sub-Contracts
The European Commission wants to hear just how voluntary and community organisations fare with respect to ESF. In a letter to the Third Sector European Network in December 2009, the Commission writes that ‘Disaggregated data that helps provide more conclusive evidence of the full extent of Third Sector involvement from both a provision and finding point of view would be very welcome in the interests of accountability and transparency of the programme’.
Forthcoming Voluntary Value research will seize the initiative on this issue – have early involvement by writing to Simon at South West Forum.
ESF urged to take better account of volunteering
In a new report from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), ESF is urged to offer incentives to providers to offer voluntary activity as a pathway to integration especially for groups furthest from the labour market.
Dr Jeremy Kendall of the University of Kent warns that the EU's emphasis on market-led economic growth may underplay the richness and breadth of volunteering.
To download the report, click the following link (650KB PDF)
Changes to ESF Procurement Guidance
Changes to the procurement guidance for Co-Financing Organisations (CFOs, Department for Work and Pensions, Learning and Skills Council, National Offender Management Service) mean that CFOs will now be able to select providers for ESF activity either through competitive tendering or by means of a grant.
Previously, guidance required all ESF and match funded activity to be selected through competitive tendering, subject to public procurement regulation. The use of this flexibility will be subject to the discretion of the CFO.
For further information here (300KB PDF) (see section 1.9.20) and here (330KB PDF) (see section 2.10).
Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion Regional Event
Thursday 25th February 2010 (10.00 - 4.00)
Weston-super-Mare
**Regional Minister Jim Knight MP CONFIRMED**
This free event, launching the European Year (2010) for Combating Poverty, has close links with ESF, not least since ESF should be one of the principal tools for removing social exclusion. This event will:
Introduce the EY 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion and explain its purpose;
Raise awareness of poverty in the South West particularly in rural and coastal communities;
Highlight current activity to combat poverty within the region, and
Explore ways in which action to combat poverty can be increased .
This event is sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Third Sector European Network, and facilitated by South West Forum on behalf of South West Action on Poverty. Further information available here
Guide for Third Sector organisation seeking funding for 19+ learners
As the new Skills Funding Agency comes into operation, The Third Sector National Learning Alliance (TSNLA) has issued a guide for Third Sector organisations seeking funding for learners aged 19+.
Download the document here
The TSNLA is a new national alliance of voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises involved in learning and training. It aims to offer a coherent 'voice' from and for the Third Sector providers across government departments and other important bodies, as well as a forum for developing Third Sector ideas and proposals. Membership applications for the Alliance (TSNLA) are now being taken.
By becoming a member you can get involved and ensure that the perspectives of your organisation, and your valuable work, are highlighted and listened to.
For further information on prices and benefits please visit the TSNLA
Dorset LINk “Have a Say Fund” - Dorset LINk makes £10,000 available to local groups
Dorset LINk has a one-off fund of £10,000 available in grants of £100 to £500 for local “grassroots” voluntary or community groups who can assist the LINk in its remit to gather feedback from local people on health and social care services.
For more information, eligibility criteria and an application form please contact the Dorset LINk and state that your enquiry is regarding the “Have a Say Fund”.
Call: 0300 111 0102
Write to: Freepost Licence No. BH1902, Dorset LINk ‘Have a Say Fund’, The Pokesdown Centre, 896 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 6BR
Alternatively, send an email
ladder4learning
ladder4learning, a service delivered by The Learning Curve, offers a dedicated helpline and comprehensive website providing information and advice about workforce development for people working in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector across the South West and South East regions.
ladder4learning provides impartial information and advice to individuals, VCSE organisations and the organisations and advisors that support them including a whole range of resources, briefing sheets and research.
Where appropriate we can refer you to other people or organisations for more specialist information.
For further information about Ladder4learning visit the website or send an email. Our Helpline is 01225 792505 (10.00 am – 3.00 pm).
ladder4learning is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and is delivered by The Learning Curve (Charity No. 1090735 Company No. 4324686).
Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Assembly - ‘Influencing for the Sector’
Tuesday 2nd March at The Assembly Rooms, Warminster - 10am – 3pm
Further details available at the WSIC website.
Funding advisors for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole
Please find below contact details for funding advisors for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole:
Bournemouth and Poole
Lyn Pullen, Poole CVS
Gary Bentham, Bournemouth Borough Council
Dorset
Chris Carman, Dorset Community Action
Christine Stone, West Dorset District Council
Funding advisors for Swindon and Wiltshire
The Funding Advisors Network (FAN) contact for Wiltshire and Swindon is
Jane Butler, CIB Wilts, Email or phone 01380 729279
