The European Union supports poorer regions of Member States by providing funds to help them regenerate their economies and create new jobs. The four most important funding programmes are known collectively as ‘Structural Funds’.
More information on the national picture
European social funding underway in the East Midlands
The European Social Fund (ESF) programme for England 2007-2013 is investing £376 million in the East Midlands. This funding aims to extend employment opportunities for local people and develop a skilled and adaptable workforce.
In these times of economic uncertainly, at least 147,000 people will benefit directly and will in turn improve the region’s overall economy. It will build on the work from the 2000-6 programme.
More than 50 providers across the region are offering over 90 projects designed to boost skills and job chances for individuals. These range from those which give budding entrepreneurs the tools to set up their own business, to projects which help people with disabilities improve their skills and confidence via a horticultural course.
The ESF in the East Midlands Newsletter is produced by COI on behalf of the regional LSC, which provides updates and success stories from across the region. These newsletters are included in the links below
ESF will focus on these priorities:-
Local communities – helping to cut unemployment, up-skilling communities and helping them to become more sustainable in the long term, particularly those who have lost their jobs because of the current economic downturn.
Social minorities and excluded groups – helping long term unemployed, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, lone parents, the homeless, ex-offenders and people lacking the basic skills needed to get a job aim to develop a highly and appropriately skilled workforce.
ESF is managed by three co-financing organisations in the region – Learning and Skills Council, Department for Work and Pensions and a Local Authorities Consortium. Government Office for the East Midlands oversees the programme.
For general information on ESF see http://www.esf.gov.uk/
It is important to note that the project activity funded by the current 2000-06 programmes will continue until 2009. There will be some overlap between the programmes in 2007 and 2009 while the current programmes run down and the new programmes start up.
Latest News
Ashfield Skills Centre Project as a RegioStars 2009 Finalist
The jury for "RegioStars 2009 - The Awards for Innovative Projects" organised by European Commission has selected the Ashfield Skills Centre Project as a RegioStars 2009 Finalist. As a finalist the Managing Body and the Project Manager will be invited to attend the RegioStars Awards ceremony. The jury will meet in December to decide on the winners of RegioStars 2009. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony on 16 February 2009.
Further information can be found at: The Awards for Regional Innovative Projects
