Are EU Structural Funds a relevant source of funding for my organisation?

Judith Stone - Third sector European team (3-SET)

www.wcva.org.uk 0800 2888 329 help@wcva.org.uk Up-dated June 2013

Learning outcomes

• 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)• European Agricultural Fund for Rural

Development (EAFRD)• European Maritime and 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;

environmental sustainability and tackling poverty• 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 £104m (+ £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–Advice on project development (’critical friend’) and brokerage–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 3SET@wcva.org.uk / 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