European Social Fund - Investing in jobs and skills


London Councils and the European Social Fund Technical Assistance Programme provided funding to two organisations between 2008-2010, to work with the voluntary and community sector working to tackle poverty through a range of education, training and employment services by providing:

  • Support for voluntary and community organisations to compete effectively for ESF
  • Improvements to services around employment and training

The service was primarily targeted at organisations delivering or preparing to deliver ESF funded projects in London and those working to tackle child poverty funded by London Councils. The projects came to an end in September 2010.

London Councils Commissioned Rocket Science to complete an evaluation of the support provided during 2008-10 the final reports can be found here.

Executive Summary Opens in a new window

Full Evaluation Opens in a new window

Strand One: Support for voluntary and community organisations to compete effectively for ESF

This service will be offered to projects by Islington Training Network, through the Promoting Quality and Performance (PQP) project to organisations new to ESF or preparing to bid for ESF funding by delivering:

  • a needs analysis of voluntary and community organisations to assess their strengths and weaknesses around delivery and agreeing an action plan to address these to ensure they will be competitive for ESF funding;
  • A programme of training and workshops to meet identified needs. For example, evaluation systems; outcome based funding and how this works; development of partnerships for delivery; development of exit strategies from ESF to improve the sustainability of organisations.
  • One-to-one support for projects based on identified needs;
  • Support to voluntary and community organisations to access ESF and other funds, developing other funding strategies and exit strategies from ESF to improve the sustainability of organisations;
  • Working with projects to improve quality and the meet the requirements of inspectorates such as Ofsted;
  • An electronic good practice manual that is regularly updated and a resource for groups.

For more information or to contact the project, please go to:http://www.itn.org.uk/current_progs07.html

Strand Two: Improving services around employment and training

The aim of the ‘Unlocking ESF Potential’ project, delivered by GLE in partnership with LVSTC, is to help third sector organisations currently or previously funded through ESF, or keen to engage in ESF, to strengthen their services around employment and training.

Organisations can benefit from a range of initiatives which include:  

  • Events and workshops focusing on themes including jobs brokerage, employer engagement, Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), tackling child poverty, equalities and other issues of importance to an ESF funded project 
  • Follow-up Individual 1:1 support which may be provided on issues arising from the workshops
  • Working groups with FE/HE institutions to strengthen the referral process between organisations and Further and Higher education
  • European and UK study visits providing London based organisations with an opportunity to learn how ESF is delivered by European counterparts
  • Policy bulletins and email briefings on issues of key importance to ESF
  • Access to directories containing up to date information on third sector employers and training organisations
  • A mentoring programme designed to provide coaching and support to third sector organisations other ESF co-financing programmes, awareness of other key training and employment programmes such as City Strategy Pathfinders, sharing good practice around progression, making effective links with Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE). Individual support to projects is provided where this is needed.

For more information or to contact the project, please go to:

 www.esfpotential.co.uk


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