Nationally…

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has overall responsibility for ESF funds in England. DWP manages the England ESF Programme at a national level and liaises with the European Commission in Brussels. Each region has its own ESF allocation to fund projects to address its regional jobs and skills needs, within the framework of the England ESF Programme.

Regionally:

At the regional level, ESF funds are distributed through ‘Co-Financing Organisations’. In the West Midlands there are three Co-Financing Organisations i) Skills Funding Agency (SFA)/West Midlands Leaders Board (WMLB) ii) DWP (Department of Works & Pensions) iii) NOMS (National Offender Management Service). Their role is to bring together ESF and domestic funding for Employment and Skills so that ESF complements domestic programmes. The Co-Financing Organisations contract with the organisations or ‘providers’ that deliver ESF projects on the ground.

West Midlands European Social Fund Strategic Framework 2011 – 2013

The purpose of the West Midlands European Social Fund (ESF) Framework is to establish how ESF spending can support regional priorities to tackle worklessness and low skills, within the parameters of the agreed ESF programme for England for the seven year duration of the programme. (2007-2013)

Following the publication of the original ESF Regional framework for the West Midlands in 2007, the wider economy has entered a period of recession. The revised framework takes in to account the impact that this recession has had on the employment and skills landscape in the region and sets the direction for investment in the regions’ employment and skills priorities for 2011 – 2013, helping to ensure ESF funds are aligned to greatest need and complement and add value to domestic funding for employment and skills.

Co-financing organisations are currently preparing their new CFO plans

It is envisaged that there will be a co-financing round in Summer/Autumn 2010

In preparation for the application round please see WMEN’s current training programme >

Who Can Apply:

Any public, private or third sector organisation that is legally formed, and able to deliver ESF provision can apply for funding to a Co-financing Organisation (CFO). Individual and sole traders cannot apply.

CFOs make ESF available through a process of open and competitive tendering. If you are successful you will receive a single stream of funding from the CFO. You do not have to find your own ‘match funding’ as CFOs are responsible for both the ESF and match funding.

ESF Community Grants:

These are small grants for voluntary and community organisations to help them reach disadvantaged people who are not working.

Contact us to speak to a member of staff Click Here >

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