European funding Last updated April 2007 South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau doesn’t give detailed advice and information about funding from the European Union. This guide has basic information on the main programmes around and where to go for more information and advice. For the bigger Structural Funds such as the money that was available through Objective 1 in South Yorkshire, the funds are mainly targeted at larger organisations or are channelled through co-financing arrangements with partner organisations such as Learning and Skills Councils. For other European funding, you generally have to work in partnership with organisations in other European countries. European Structural Funds Background Information European Structural Funds have been the main way in which the European Union has tried to encourage greater economic and social cohesion and uniformity of living standards across its 25 member states. For South Yorkshire from 2000 to 2006, this was mainly through Objective 1 funding. From 2007-13, there will be different arrangements and less money available. The details are being worked out and programmes are due to begin from Autumn 2007. How European Structural Funding Works At the top is the European Commission, which collects money from each member state. This money is then divided between ‘structural policy financial instruments’ that are called ‘Structural Funds’. The two of interest to the voluntary and community sector are: • European Social Fund (ESF): This aims to put people into employment by developing skills and training opportunities, and promoting social inclusion and entrepreneurship • European Regional Development Fund (ERDF): This aims to reduce socio-economic imbalances between areas of Europe, through economic regeneration, and local development European Structural Funds 2000-06 For the 2000-2006 programme, the money available through the ESF and ERDF Structural Funds was distributed through three Objectives (Objective 1, Objective 2 and Objective 3), four Community Initiatives (INTERREG, EQUAL, URBAN, LEADER+), and Global Grants. In South Yorkshire, this was primarily Objective 1 and Global Grants. Objective 1 This promotes the development of areas whose growth is much weaker than the rest of Europe. From 2000 to 2006, the UK areas with Objective 1 status were Cornwall, Merseyside, South Yorkshire, West Wales & the Valleys. The regional government offices administered and distributed the money, in partnership with private, public, and voluntary and community sector organisations. For South Yorkshire, the Government Office of Yorkshire and the Humber had responsibility for administering Objective 1 funding. From 2007, South Yorkshire no longer has Objective 1 status. Global Grants These are small grants for voluntary and community organisations that are unable to apply for funds through the Community Initiatives or Objectives. They are administered by partnerships in each region, and are often separately branded. In South Yorkshire, Global Grants of up to £10,000 are available from South Yorkshire Key Fund. These will continue to be available at least until March 2008. Contact: South Yorkshire Key Fund Telephone: 0114 242 8900 email: info@sykeyfund.org.uk Website: http://www.sykeyfund.org.uk European Structural Funds 2007-13 Objective 1 funding has effectively come to an end in South Yorkshire and due to the expansion of members of the European Union, the county will no longer qualify for this level of funding. However, the arrangements for European Structural Funds for 2007-13 are currently being negotiated and South Yorkshire will still receive a share of this. Overall, with the expansion of the EU, the amount of the UK that is eligible to receive European regional aid (areas that have Assisted Area status) reduces from 30% to 24%. The UK Government has to determine how to allocate this money. For the 2007-13 programme, the Objective 1, 2 and 3 distribution has been replaced by three new Objectives: • A Convergence Objective (which replaces the current Objective 1), to support the economic convergence of regions with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) below 75% of the EU average. The UK will receive approximately 2.6 billion in Convergence funding for its poorest regions; Cornwall, West Wales and the Valleys and the Highlands and Islands. • A Competitiveness and Employment Objective (which replaces the current Objectives 2 and 3), to improve competitiveness and increase employment in other regions. Approximately 6.2 billion will also be available. Of this, South Yorkshire and Merseyside will receive phasing-in Competitiveness funding which will work out at about one-third of the amount for the full Convergence regions. The Government, in agreement with the Commission, will decide how the UK’s remaining Competitiveness funding should be allocated between the regions. Although the UK Government has yet to finalise the details, it looks likely that structural funds coming into South Yorkshire will be targeted to specific wards considered most in need. • A Cooperation Objective, to finance cross-border and trans-national cooperation projects. The UK will receive approximately 600 million for this. At least 75% of all European Structural Funding for 2007-13 has to be spent on achieving the ‘Lisbon Agenda’, which is a strategy for EU spending. This means spending will mainly be on achieving sustainable economic growth and more and better jobs. The phasing-in Competitiveness funding delivered in South Yorkshire will be through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) This aims to reduce socio-economic imbalances between areas of Europe, through economic regeneration, and local development. It will be administered by the Government Office of Yorkshire and the Humber, and will most likely be delivered through Yorkshire Forward, Business Link and Local Authorities. The priorities are: • Priority 1 – Promoting innovation and R&D • Priority 2 – Stimulating and supporting successful enterprise • Priority 3 – Sustainable Communities • Priority 4 – Economic Infrastructure for a Competitive Economy (South Yorkshire only) • Priority 5 – Technical Assistance The programme is timetabled to begin in Autumn 2007 although this might slip to early 2008. Contact: Government Office of Yorkshire and the Humber Website: http://www.gos.gov.uk/goyh Contact: Yorkshire Forward Website: http://www.yorkshire- forward.com European Social Fund (ESF) This aims to put people into employment by developing skills and training opportunities, and promoting social inclusion and entrepreneurship. It will be administered nationally through the Department for Work and Pensions and delivered through two co-financing organisations; Job Centre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council. There are three priorities: • Extending Employment Opportunities • Developing a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce • Technical Assistance Although administered nationally, there will be some regional flexibility over what is supported; this will be influenced by the Regional Economic Strategy and the Regional Skills Partnerships. More information on the partnership and a downloadable copy of the Regional Strategy are available from the Yorkshire Futures website. Website: http:// www.yorkshirefutures.com On the current timetable, the Regional ESF plan will be produced in summer 2007; then the plan for the co-financing organisations will be put together in the autumn with a tendering round due to open in late Autumn 2007 for projects starting in 2008. More information is available from the ESF (UK) website and Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Forum. Website: http://www.esf.gov.uk Website: http://www.yhregforum.org.uk Other European Funding Aside from the Structural Funds, the European Union runs a large number of funding programmes in particular areas of work. All EU funding aims to increase communication and joint working across different countries within the EU, so virtually all EU funding programmes will require applicants to work in partnership with organisations in other member states. Also, grants will only pay for up to 50% of the costs of a project or activity – you will need match funding. Although the grant programmes cover a very diverse range of activity, there are some general principles that apply in each case. Grants are not awarded on a case-by-case basis. Instead, they are subject to annual programming. Before 31 March each year, those Departments of the Commission that manage grant programmes publish their annual work programme on their websites (see below). The work programme fixes the broad outlines of the grants that they expect to make over the year (area of activity, targets, timetable, available budget, award conditions, etc). By consulting these work programmes you can identify the fields that are likely to be relevant to you in advance. This is important, as calls for applications are often made at short notice. Throughout the year, the Commission’s Departments publish calls for proposals on their websites; the calls for proposals invite candidates to present, within a given deadline, a proposal for action that corresponds to the targets pursued and fulfils the required conditions. These calls for proposals may also be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The starting point for finding out about the many European grant programmes and calls for applications is the European Commission website which has an index of grant programmes divided into policy categories. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/grants/ index_en.htm Other sources of information Culture Funding Euclid is the UK body that provides information about EU funding programmes in the culture sector. It provides information through the culture.info website which covers EU funds and some other funding for culture. Website: http://www.culture.info European Years The European Union designates a theme for each year and provides resources for work about and towards that theme. Each country nominates a National Implementing Body who manage and administer the funding, which can provide up to 50% of a project’s costs. 2007 is the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All. Funding will be given to meetings and events, information and awareness campaigns, and research projects at EU and national level. The Commission for Equality and Human Rights is the UK’s national implementing body. Around 15 million will be available with around half that on projects within individual member states. Website: http://ec.europa.eu/ employment_social/eyeq/index.cfm Website: http://www.cehr.org.uk 2008 is likely to be the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue, with dialogue between religions as a main topic. One purpose of the Year will be to ensure that intercultural dialogue is taken into account in all EU programmes, especially those in culture, education, sports and citizenship. It is likely that 10 million will be available, with 30% of that spent at national level. Europe Direct Centres 25 centres have been established across that offer access to up-to-date information on EU legal matters, policy developments and funding programmes. Each centre also provides free phone access to a new Europe Direct phone line. The centres are mainly in libraries, local authority buildings or chambers of commerce. You can visit them personally, or contact them via phone or e-mail. For South Yorkshire groups, the closest centre is at Leeds Central Library. Contact: Europe Direct Leeds Tel: 0113 247 8282 email: europedirect@leeds.gov.uk Website: http://www.leeds.gov.uk/ europedirect Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Forum may be able to offer advice on applying for European funding. Contact: Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Forum 3rd Floor, Goodbard House 15 Infirmary Street Leeds, LS1 2JS Tel: 0113 243 8188 email: office@yhregforum.org.uk Website: http://www.yhregforum.org.uk All our information is produced in a standard sized typeface, but we can produce it in other formats on request If you are suddenly faced with a financial crisis, there are certain things you need to do. South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau The Workstation 15 Paternoster Row Sheffield S1 2BX Tel: 0114 249 4343 email: enquiries@syfab.org.uk Website: www.syfab.org.uk Funding Advice Line 0114 276 5460 Registered Charity No: 1061118 Reg. Company No: 3030641 © SYFAB 2007 All rights reserved. Our information is produced for local community and voluntary groups. No permission is needed for limited reproduction if the Bureau is acknowledged. Large scale reproduction or inclusion in publications for sale must have written permission from the Bureau. The South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau welcomes your comments and criticism. You can talk to any member of staff, or contact us by post, phone, fax or email - see the front page for details.