Tuesday 16 June 2015
Making the most of the
European Social Fund to
promote social inclusion
and combat poverty
Welcome and introductions
Sue Ramsden
Policy Leader
National Housing Federation
Today’s speakers
Sue Ormiston
EU Programme Manager at Big
Lottery Fund
Nehal Depani
Policy and Project Manager at
London VSC
Building Better Opportunities
National Housing Federation
16 June 2015
Sue Ormiston
Building Better Opportunities
Introduction
1. Building Better Opportunities
2. Key Messages
3. The Big Lottery Fund’s Opt In Offer
4. The Application Process
5. Next Steps
6. Questions and Answer
Building Better Opportunities
Overall Vision for Building
Better Opportunities?
ESF TO9
OUR MISSION
Promoting social
Making a real
inclusion and
difference to
combating poverty communities and the
lives of people most in
need
OUTCOME 1
To maximise
the impact of
this funding
Building Better Opportunities
OUTCOME 2
Whilst open to all
sectors, we aim
to improve access
to European
Funds by VCSE
organisations
Key messages
•Building Better
Opportunities is now live.
•37 Local Enterprise
Partnership (LEP) areas are
expected to opt in.
•71 projects in 25 LEP areas
are now open for
application.
•£300m investment over 3
years to tackle poverty and
promote social inclusion.
Building Better Opportunities
Support to applicants
• Baker Tilly/Ecorys are
offering support and
advice regards
monitoring and
reporting requirements.
• www.bboesfsupport.com
Building Better Opportunities
Programme Development
Funding
• £950k across 36 LEP
areas
• 3 objectives;
•Awareness
•Administrative
support
•Contact
Building Better Opportunities
The Big Lottery Opt In Offer
A Summary
1. Supporting those furthest from
the labour market
2. Meet local needs and priorities
3. Actual costs
4. Grants, not contracts
5. Support available
Building Better Opportunities
Application Process
2-stage competitive grants
process
•Outline
proposal
Building Better Opportunities
•Detailed
proposal
Application Process
Big Lottery development
grants
• Outline
proposal
Building Better Opportunities
• Lottery
money
• Detailed
proposal
Tranche 1 Key dates
• June/July 2015 – Stage 1 Application
• August/September – Stage 1 Assessment
• October – Stage 1 Decision Making
• November/December – Stage 2
Application
• January/February 2016 – Stage 2
Assessment (there are multiple
deadlines for the applicant to choose
from, this is the earliest)
• March – Stage 2 Earliest decisions and
award
* All dates are subject to minor change.
Building Better Opportunities
Tranche 2 Key dates
• October/November 2015 – Stage 1
Application
• December/January 2016/February (to
include Christmas break) – Stage 1
Assessment
• March – Stage 1 Decision Making
• March/April – Stage 2 Application
• May/ June– Stage 2 Assessment (there
are multiple deadlines for the applicant
to choose from, this is the earliest)
• July – Stage 2 Earliest decisions and
award
* All dates are subject to minor change.
Building Better Opportunities
Next Steps
1. Assessment and Decision
making for Tranche 1
Applications
2. Development of Tranche 2
project outlines.
3. Building Better
Opportunities programme
management and
evaluation
Building Better Opportunities
Feedback and Questions
Building Better Opportunities
Further information
Building Better Opportunities
Working with the voluntary sector
Nehal Depani, Policy Manager
London Voluntary Service Council
18
Introduction
• About LVSC
• About the voluntary sector
• Partnership working with the voluntary
sector: the advantages - and challenges
to be aware of
19
About LVSC
Representing the interests of the
voluntary sector in London by:
• Capacity building, networking
opportunities, briefings
• Building links with other
sectors: including housing
associations!
PDF organisation for Building Better Opportunities
& Technical Assistance organisation for ESF 07-14
20
Key facts about the VCS
160,045 VCS
organisations
£12.1 billion
contribution to
GVA
Total income
of £40.5 billion
c. 20,000
involved in
E&S (poss.
many more)
821,000
employees
27% people
volunteer once
a month & 41%
once a year
21
Advantages of voluntary
sector partners for ESF
Value driven
Innovation
Expertise
The VCS
Close to
communities
Fulfil the
specification
22
Avoiding common pitfalls
23
Find the right partner
• Your local PDF organisation
• Other “infrastructure” organisations / networks?
• Approach likely leads in your own area
• Fill in and set up an EoI
Be clear about
what you are
looking for in a
partner & what
you can bring!
24
Key considerations for you
and your partners
Alignment of
values
Risk and
project
management
Making the
most of your
partner
Clarity of
roles
In the words of Ronald Regan “Trust, but verify”
25
Key messages
• Voluntary sector organisations
have significant experience and
skills when working with the
people targeted by BBO
• But partnerships can easily go
wrong - especially if you are
blindly chasing the money
• Devote the resources and time to
building trust and understanding
each other
26
Thanks for listening!
Nehal@lvsc.org.uk
www.lvsc.org.uk / www.vcsassist.org.uk
@Nehal_LVSC and @LVSCnews
27