are eu structural funds a relevant source of funding for my organisation?
DESCRIPTION
By Judith Stone of WCVA at the 2014 European Structural Fund events in Llanelli, Llandudno and Cardiff.TRANSCRIPT
Are EU Structural Funds a relevant source of funding for my organisation?
Judith Stone - Third sector European team (3-SET)[email protected]
www.wcva.org.uk 0800 2888 329 [email protected] Up-dated June 2013
Overview
• Understand the key principles and terminology of EU Structural Funds
• Understand the third sector’s role in delivering EU funded projects in Wales
• Understand the support available from WCVA’s third sector European team (3-SET)
• Sign post organisations to relevant information and sources of advice on EU funding
“David Cameron issues veiled threat to EU funding for Wales”
Western Mail, 12.11.12
“Wales could lose £1bn of EU funds if cuts go ahead “
Daily Post, 25.01.14
“More European aid set to be available for Wales' poor
areas”BBC News, 22.04.12
What’s all the fuss about?
EU Structural Funds: the fundamentals
• What? EU regional development aid • Who? Granted to all regions within the 28 EU Member
States; two areas within Wales: West Wales & the Valleys (WW&V) and East Wales
• Why? To raise the economic wealth (GDP) of regions; with a focus on regions with less than 75% EU average GDP (‘lesser developed’ regions)
• When? Seven year programme cycles (2000-2006; 2007-2013; 2014-2020)
• How? Managed in Wales by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO), part of the Welsh Government’s Finance Department
• How much?...
EU Structural Funds in Wales 2014-2020
£1.4bn
£300m
£75m
EU Structural & Investment Funds
• European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) • European Social Fund- (ESF)• Rural Development Plan (RDP) • Fisheries funds (EMFF)
There are many other sources of EU funding, particularly for working with partners in other EU Member States
Principles of funding
• Operational Programmes (OP) with priorities and themes for investment = the contract between the Welsh Government and the European Commission
• A small number of joined up projects, aligned to Welsh Government policies
• Procurement, not grants – tighter processes and competition to secure value for money
• Levels of funding – from small contracts (up to £25k) to £multi-million projects
Key features
• Added value• Match funding• Volunteer time as in-kind match funding• Cross cutting themes: equality of opportunity and
environmental sustainability• Partnership Principle• Rules and regulations and audit• High levels of bureaucracy• Rigorous monitoring: outputs, results and impacts
How to access European Structural Funds
• Project sponsor
• Joint sponsor
• Contractor / supplier
EU funding in Wales 2000-20202000-2006 2007-2013 2014-
2020
Total funding allocation
£1.2bn £1.4bn £1.4bn
Total no. projects > 3000 286 ?
Total funding to third sector
£206m £97m (£63.5m grants + £140m contracts)
?
Total third sector projects
508 (319 orgs) 45 (29 orgs) ?
Key features Bottom up; duplication; social; equalities
Strategic; economic; procurement
Social and economic focus...
Routes of access for EU Structural Funds
• Direct applications to WEFO (‘lead/joint’ sponsor)– Read WEFO Guidance for Project Sponsors
• Partnership approach with third party lead body
• Contracting opportunities
How can WCVA help?
• 3-SET support–Information–Advice on project development/’critical friend’–Help to identify contract delivery opportunities–Training/capacity building–Events and networking
• Third sector European forum (3-SEF) – network of support for lead/joint sponsors
Further information •Contact [email protected] / 0800 2888 329
• Or local groups can speak to local SET teams:http://wefo.wales.gov.uk/publications/sets/outreach/?lang=en
•www.wcva.org.uk/funding/europe
•www.wefo.wales.gov.uk
•www.europa.eu