edUKation issue 5

TThe fifth edition of edUKation, the quarterly newsletter for the Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal programmes in the UK, is now available to download here.

In this issue:

• UK sport nets the benefits of European funding
• LLP supports European Year of Intercultural Dialogue
• Short placement opportunities with Leonardo, Grundtvig and Transversal

“LIFE+” EU Funding for Environmental Projects Information Day

Thursday 17th April 2008 at the Rep Theatre, Birmingham.

TEU Connects, West Midlands in Europe, Natural England and Government Office West Midlands invite you to a free practical half-day event aimed at helping organisations in the West Midlands in applying for funding for environmental projects:

The new LIFE+ fund has just opened for the deadline of November 2008. This is the first of two events organized around this fund, this first event will be an information day and nearer the time of deadline we will hold an application workshop.

LIFE+ is the Financial Instrument for the Environment, with a budget of €2.143 billion (for the period 2007-2013). LIFE+ is a funding instrument aiming to provide specific support for the development and implementation of Community environmental policy and legislation. It comprises of three components:

• LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity
• LIFE+ Environment Policy & Governance
• LIFE+ Information & Communication

This free half-day event including lunch offers an overview to the new funding programme, the EU policy and some advice in developing your ideas into a project application.

Come along and find out…

• the latest on the EU Environment Policy
• a general overview of the LIFE+ funding programme
• What makes a good LIFE+ project
• Alternative EU funding streams

Please see the event programme along with directions to the Rep Theatre in Birmingham.

Places will be limited, so registration will be on a first come first serve basis.

Please reply to Jo Sartori at EU Connects by filling in the expression of interest form by Monday 7th April

This WMIE briefing was compiled in response to the publication of two recent regional reports on migration: (i) 'The Economic Impact of Migrant Workers in the West Midlands' published in November 2007, and (ii) the report by the West Midlands Strategic Migration Partnership 'Regional Migration Scoping Exercise' published in December 2007. The former highlights the 'clear benefits to the region's economy' from migrant workers while the latter emphasises the 'significant potential for regional working that will add value to work in the field of migration in the region'.

The WMIE Briefing is in four parts:
(i) Information on EU migration and asylum policy, indicating where the UK may opt-in (Pages 2-7)
(ii) Scoping ideas around a future event in Brussels in May to profile the above reports (as requested), (Page 8)
(iii) Overview of transnational funding opportunities within the current financial period 2007-2013 to support migration activities (Pages 9-13)
(iv) Information on other European networks and partnerships (Pages 14-15)

West Midlands in Europe will shortly be issuing a new fact sheet on transnational funding for migration. This briefing may also be read in conjunction with WMIE briefing 001/08 on the European Qualifications Framework which can be downloaded from our website.

West Midlands' partners are invited to consider whether the suggested programme for profiling the two regional reports is a suitable set-up and whether the timeframe is convenient.

Click here for the briefing!

European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN)

The European Urban Knowledge Network (EUKN) is a European initiative to share knowledge and experience on tackling urban issues.EUKN connects European cities, urban researchers and knowledge institutes. EUKN makes its knowledge and expertise available to end users to exchange valid, standardised and demand-driven knowledge.

The network comprises:

• Partners in each of the 15 EU member states
• EUROCITIES
• URBACT Programme
• The European Commission

For more information go to: 

http://www.ascskills.org.uk/pages/international/National-Focal-Poin

acevo publishes independent inquiry into Pathways to Work contracts

Third Sector Chief Executives’ body, acevo has published an independent inquiry into the awarding of contracts for the Department of Work and Pension’s ‘Pathways to Work’ scheme and calls on the Secretary of State to review future bidding rounds immediately.

In September DWP announced that the latest round of bidding has resulted in 15 contracts being awarded to 5 private companies and only one third sector organisation. This will have a significant impact upon those organisations wishing to contract into the ESF element of the Regional Competitiveness and Employment Structural Funds Programmes 2007-2013 in the West Midlands

Despite recent evidence that the third sector is particularly strong at delivering welfare to work services, many voluntary organisations have lost contracts in this bidding round. These losses are posing serious threats to the future of these organisations.

The inquiry was Chaired by Dame Mavis McDonald, a former Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. Other members of the enquiry commission include an expert in procurement and purchasing, and an experienced third sector professional with background in providing employment services.

Download the report here:

http://www.acevo.org.uk/downloads/upload/inquiry.pdf

Planning is a key element of project development and management; planning your projects succession strategy is equally important. To gain an insight into this area of project management, you should attend our seminar 'Succession Planning' which introduces best practice examples such as the ESF funded “How to Guide” and “Readiness Assessment Toolkit”. Examples of successful strategies will be provided along with useful toolkits.

At a recent event organised by the West Midlands Learning and Skills Council, Andy Stowe, Senior Policy Advisor at WMEN spoke to a large audience about planning for project closure, and also encouraged organisations to think about how to realise the benefits that accrue from project activity funded by the European Social Fund.

See a pdf of his presentation by clicking here.

REALiSE - Birmingham & Solihull's biggest commitment yet to social enterprise growth

REALiSE is THE support programme, improving the capacity and capability of social enterprises, to deliver more front line services - better.

As part of the programme, micro-clusters of social enterprises have been created in five key areas:

• Employment & Training
• Health & Social Care
• Environment & Sustainability
• Business support
• Education, Culture & Sport

The members of these clusters are working together to improve their local economies, develop inter-trading agreements, develop arrangements that will help them bid more effectively for procurement contracts, and support and promote social and economic renewal in the community.

West Midlands European Social Fund Programme 2007-2013

Information Seminar

Latest News

The Department for Work and Pensions submitted the proposal for the 2007-2013 England ESF programme to the European Commission on 5 March 2007. Following lengthy negotiations with the European Commission, the proposal has been amended and is now with the Commission. It is now expected that the programme will be agreed by autumn 2007.

Regional Framework

The regional ESF frameworks will inform the delivery of the ESF programme so that it adds value to regional employment and skills priorities and complements other funding streams. West Midlands European Network (WMEN) has been working with partners since the summer of 2006 in drafting the new Regional ESF Framework required by the Regional Skills Partnership.

It is expected that the first funding rounds under the 2007-2013 programme will be held in autumn 2007 and that project activity will start in early 2008. There will be significantly less ESF funding under the 2007-2013 programme and with this in mind WMEN have been preparing organisations around the region by introducing the ESF funded Readiness Assessment Tool and How to Guide (Sucession Planning seminars running since 2005).

Information seminar

It is WMEN's role to provide advice and guidance on all matters concerning the WM Structural Funds programmes. Given our strategic role in the development of the new programme, and the fact that there is now a draft programme for the commencement of delivery, Andy Stowe, Senior Policy Officer at WMEN will be providing an 'insiders view' on the strategies, priorities and processes for the new ESF prgramme in the West Midlands.

The first seminar will take place on Thursday 26th July, 10.30am till 12.00, at The Custard Factory. Please contact Sophie Sinclair at sophie@wmeuronet.org if you wish to attend. Places are limited and we are expecting this course to fill up quickly so should you wish to attend please complete the booking form attached. Costs are £20 for third sector organisations and £30 for public sector.

Andy Stowe
Senior European Policy Advisor
West Midlands European Network
Unit 314 The Custard Factory
Gibb Street
Digbeth
Birmingham B9 4AA