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ESF at work Investing in jobs and skills
Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
Next page
Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
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WelcomeWelcome to the July/August issue of ‘ESF at work’.
In this issue we look at how ESF is making a real difference to people’s lives. On page 2 we report on the ‘Celebrating Success in the North West’ event held in Manchester in June. The event marked the achievements of providers and participants from the 2000–2006 ESF programme.
Successful projects were also celebrated at the ‘London ESF story’ event at Stamford Bridge in June (page 3), which marked the launch of 205 new ESF projects across London.
On page 4 we feature the stories of some of the national ESF award winners from Adult Learners’ Week 2008. The winners included Milton Wacha whose ESF funded training has helped turn his life around.
We also report on the new ESF gender equality and equal opportunities mainstreaming plan (page 5) and the roll out of new ESF projects (page 6).
We would like you to tell us what you think of ‘ESF at work’ by completing a short questionnaire on page 7. Your views are important to us and we will report back on findings in the next issue.
Pictured: ESF ‘Determination Award’ finalists receiving certificates at the Celebrating Success in the North West event in June.
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Pictured: Above centre: The Wai Yin project receiving the Embracing Diversity Award from James Hadleigh of the North West Network with presenter Lucy Meacock.Centre: John Scholes. Right: New Head of ESF Division Wendy Violentano.
New Head of ESF in England
Wendy Violentano is the new Head of ESF Division in the Department for Work and Pensions.
Wendy joins ESF Division from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and replaces Gordon Pursglove who retired at the end of March.
Joint Celebration and Awards event in Manchester
Manchester played host to the North West ESF Celebration and Awards event on 27 June, marking the achievements of providers and participants in the region.
The event was organised by the Co-financing Organisations, Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), and facilitated by ITV Granada presenter Lucy Meacock.
In the past four years Jobcentre Plus and LSC have worked with over 300 providers. Across the region over 250,000 people have been helped, with about 80,000 achieving qualifications and 50,000 securing jobs.
There were nine awards including two special awards for Provider Excellence and Individual Achievement.
John Scholes won the Individual Achievement Award for his determination to overcome significant barriers on his route back to full-time employment. Following training in drug and alcohol awareness and employability skills, John undertook a work placement and now works at a centre for adults with substance abuse and mental health problems. John said: “I’ve heard so many great stories today and I didn’t really put myself in the same category. I’ve got a great deal from my work as a unit adviser and I think the people I help can open up to me.”
The Wai Yin Chinese Women’s Society Construction Solutions project won the Embracing Diversity Award and then scooped the Provider Excellence Award for supporting 120 women through practical skills training and taster sessions in the construction industry.
Speaking on behalf of the Society, project co-ordinator Sheila Standard said:
“We are totally overwhelmed, and happy for the recognition. We are planning lots of celebrations, including a party for all of our learners.”
Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
News
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England ESF partnership reviews progress
The England and Gibraltar Programme Monitoring Committee met in Newcastle on 18 June to review the progress of the 2000–2006 Objective 3 programme and the new 2007–2013 programme.
The committee considered a range of items including annual reports, the new Co-financing rounds, community grants and the audit strategy. The annual reports are available on the ESF website.
➜ More information
Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
ESF convergence projects for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
ESF is investing £15 million of ESF funding in three new projects to help disadvantaged people in Cornwall into work.
The projects are:
• CornwallWorksPlus
• CornwallWorksforSocialEnterprise
• CornwallWorksforLearningDisabilities.
Cornwall Works Plus will be led by Working Links (Employment) Ltd, and the other two projects by Cornwall County Council. All three projects are ESF co-financed by DWP.
Welcoming the new investment, Carleen Kelemen, Director of the Partnership Office, said: “This investment of Convergence European Social Fund in skills and training will help empower people, improving their life chances and helping them take their place in the workforce. Key to this will be working with partners across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly to ensure that quality support is provided to meet the individual needs of the people involved.”
Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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Chelsea football ground attracted 300 delegates to the regional launch of the 2007–2013 ESF programme in London on 4 June.
Called ‘The London ESF Story’, the event was organised by the London Voluntary Sector Training Consortium on behalf of the Mayor of London and the Government Office for London. It also celebrated the achievements of the 2000–2006 ESF programme which has helped 750,000 Londoners improve their skills and job prospects.
Speaking at the conference, James Plaskitt MP, Work and Pensions Minister for ESF said:
“I welcome the start of the 205 new ESF projects in London. They will target people in our capital city who need that extra help to gain skills, find jobs and succeed at work. Our priority is to support those who, despite record employment levels, remain out of work, giving people new life-changing opportunities.”
The other main speakers were Ian Clement, Deputy London Mayor for Government Relations, and Santiago Loranca-Garcia, Head of the European Commission unit with responsibility for ESF in the UK.
The event also featured an exhibition of projects from the 2000–2006 programme and presentations by project managers and participants.
London celebrates ESF
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Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
Chickenshed
The conference was entertained by students from Chickenshed who presented a workshop on the benefits and challenges of ESF funding.
Chickenshed is based in Southgate, North London and runs children’s and youth theatre workshops. It also provides education courses, community outreach projects and a network of satellite ‘Sheds’
across the country.
More than 30 young people gained an accredited qualification, developed new skills and improved their confidence thanks to their recent ESF project.
Pictured: Left: James Plaskitt MP speaking at ‘The London ESF Story’ event. Right: Chickenshed students.
➜ More information about ESF in London in 2007–2013
➜ More information about ESF in London in 2000–2006
➜ More information about the conference
Celebrating adult learning Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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Pictured: (Clockwise from top left) Sharon Brennan receives her award from James Plaskitt MP; Milton Wacha; YMCA Fitness Industry Training participants.
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The achievements of ESF participants and projects were celebrated at national and regional awards ceremonies during Adult Learners’ Week from 17–23 May 2008.
Organised by the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education, and sponsored by the European Social Fund, Adult Learners’ Week encourages adults to take up learning.
Presenting awards to three ESF winners, James Plaskitt MP, Work and Pensions Minister for ESF said: “I am pleased that the ESF is again sponsoring Adult Learners’ Week which provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate learning and communicate how it can help people improve their job prospects. I hope that many more people will be inspired to take up learning opportunities after hearing the inspirational stories of the winners of this award.”
ESF Opening Doors Award YMCA Fitness Industry Training, London
When Amreena Husain Ali, 31, decided to get fit and lose weight she discovered a new career.
As a practising Muslim, she needed to find a ‘women-only’ class. Amreena discovered YMCA Fitness Industry Training where 85 women have already qualified thanks to their women-only courses.
Taking this one step further she also took a children’s fitness course and now has work she enjoys and the opportunity to help other women stay fit and healthy.
ESF Learning Works Award Sharon Brennan
Single mum Sharon Brennan, 37, was determined to give her children security and a better life.
She knew that the way forward was to go back to learning and gain qualifications that would help her find a career.
Enrolling at college was the first step, and now nine years later, she’s working as a trainee property surveyor for a major building contractor.
Her commitment to learning is such that she is now studying for an HNC at Sheffield Hallam University and considering taking a university degree.
Sharon and her two children are proud of her achievements and set for a bright future.
ESF Outstanding Individual Learner Award Milton Wacha, London
Learning was not high on Milton Wacha’s agenda when he registered with Action Acton, the London-based probation scheme that helps offenders find work.
Expelled from school at 15, followed by a life of crime, Milton showed little interest in moving on.
Now his life has been turned around thanks to the opportunities he has had to attend courses, including customer care and football coaching, which have shown him the value of work.
He has found work in a shop and is looking forward to other career opportunities.
“I’ve turned a corner”, says Milton who recognises the help he received from Action Acton. “If people have nothing to do, they get involved in crime and it becomes a routine. Now I’m more outgoing and confident.”
Adult Learners’ Week 2009 will take place from 9–15 May 2009. ESF Co-financing Organisations, providers and partners can get involved from summer 2008 by nominating ESF projects and individual participants for national and regional ESF awards.
➜ More information
Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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The new ESF gender equality and equal opportunities mainstreaming plan for the 2007–2013 programme is now available on the ESF website in July.
The plan has been prepared by the ESF Managing Authority in consultation with the national ESF Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee will oversee the progress of the plan.
The new plan builds on substantial experience of mainstreaming equality in the 2000–2006 programme.
It sets out the vision for mainstreaming equality in all of the key aspects of the programme including planning, delivery, monitoring and evaluation.
The main aims of the plan include:
• developing knowledge capacity through an ESF technical assistance project which will:
• identify specific job-related training needs
• provide a menu of support for Managing Authority and Co-financing Organisation (CFO) staff
• develop a menu of guidance which CFOs can use with their providers
• promoting the visibility of the equality theme – for example, by launching a national ESF gender equality and equal opportunities award which recognises good practice by ESF providers
• delivering equality impact assessments for CFO plans and procurement processes, and reviewing these to inform the second phase of the programme
• assessing progress towards coherent equality participation targets set at national and regional level
• encouraging regional input at national Sub-Committee meetings through presentations as well as through reporting mechanisms.
The plan also aims to promote high level commitment to developing reporting systems.
➜ More information
New gender equality and equal opportunities mainstreaming plan
Gender equality and equal opportunities are important issues for all projects and providers.
The 2007–2013 ESF programme will maintain the ‘dual approach’ to promoting gender equality and equal opportunities developed in 2000–2006.
This involves funding specific activities which target women and disadvantaged groups, as well as integrating equal opportunities into all stages of the implementation of the programme as a whole.
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Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
The 750 new ESF projects approved under the first 2007–2013 funding round are now recruiting and working with participants.
The projects are backed by £770 million of ESF investment and are targeted on people at a disadvantage in the labour market. They are helping people tackle barriers to work, improve their skills, gain jobs and do well at work.
Updates on the first tendering rounds and upcoming funding opportunities are provided below.
Department for Work and Pensions
In the first tendering round, DWP CFOs have awarded 70 ESF-funded contracts amounting to about £250 million.
DWP is issuing revised specifications for four tender rounds which did not result in the award of contracts. These are in London and the North East. Opportunities to tender to deliver ESF funded provision in South London and West London have been published. The deadline for the submission of tenders is 12 noon on 18 July.
Learning and Skills Council
Learning and Skills Council (LSC) CFOs have awarded contracts for about £500 million of ESF funding under the first LSC e-procurement process. LSC regions started awarding contracts in May and June and this process is expected to continue until September. The list of successful providers will be made available after contracting is completed.
The LSC has invited further expressions of interest for delivery of its learning and skills provision to be tendered in 2008/09. This included tendering for the LSC’s remaining ESF allocations under Priority 1 and Priority 2 of its 2007–2010 ESF Co-financing Plans.
The LSC CFOs tendering for this remaining ESF funding are the East of England, North East, North West, South West, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber.
Other Co-financing Organisations
Other Co-financing Organisations are co-financing 110 projects with £20 million of ESF funding. The contracting process is underway and will be completed over the summer. The CFOs involved are:
• BedfordshireCountyCouncil
• EastofEnglandDevelopmentAgency
• LocalAuthoritiesintheEastMidlands Consortium
• LondonCouncils
• LondonDevelopmentAgency
• LutonBoroughCouncil
• SouthEastEnglandDevelopmentAgency.
A full list of new projects across all CFOs will be available on the main ESF website later this year.
Some of these CFOs are planning further tendering rounds in 2008 under their 2007–2010 Co-financing Plans. They include the East of England Development Agency, London Development Agency and the South East England Development Agency.
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly In the Convergence area of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, a Higher Education (HE) and Higher Level Skills Delivery Plan for ESF has been developed to operate alongside co-financed activity. The plan has been developed by Cornwall HE partners in collaboration with regional partners.
Tendering has been completed for graduate placements, which is the first of five themes. The deadline for submitting applications for the other four themes was Friday 11 July 2008.
Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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New ESF projects
➜ More information
➜ More information
➜ More information
➜ More information
Merseyside Complementary Funding In May 2008, the Government Office for the North West launched its transitional Complementary Funding Strand to operate alongside Co-financing in Merseyside until 2010.
£16 million of ESF funding was available from Priority 1: Extending employment opportunities, including an allocation for Community Grants co-ordination.
Information on successful applicants, activities targeted and funding allocated will be available from mid-July.
➜ More information
Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
Readers’ surveyIssue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
We would greatly appreciate your help with a short questionnaire to help us understand your need as readers. Please let us know what you think of ‘ESF at work’ and what you would like to see in future editions.
Welcome
News
Celebrating achievement
Minister visits Taunton
Basic skills research
Equal opportunities mainstreaming
Sustainable development
Funding opportunities
Looking forward
ESF at work Investing in jobs and skills
Issue 02 January/February 2008
www.esf.gov.uk
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WelcomeWelcome to the January/February ‘ESF at work’.
In this issue we report on the ESF Celebration of Achievement Awards event in Leeds. The awards were presented to people from Yorkshire and The Humber who have improved their skills and job prospects with the support of ESF.
On page 4 we find out about the visit by Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt to the ESF-funded Parents into Work project in Taunton. The project is successfully improving the job prospects of disadvantaged parents in the area.
Latest news is on page 2 and on page 5 we take a look at new research funded by ESF on the benefits of acquiring basic skills. We also report on equal opportunities mainstreaming and sustainable development and provide updates on funding opportunities and future events on pages 6 to 9.Don’t forget to forward ‘ESF at work’ to your colleagues and to contact us with any ideas for articles.
Pictured: Award winners from the Yorkshire and The Humber ESF Celebration of Achievement Awards.
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Welcome
News
Minister visits Lincoln ESF projectESF Global Grants evaluation
Equal opportunities
Funding opportunities
Looking forward
ESF at work Investing in jobs and skills
Issue 03 March/April 2008
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WelcomeWelcome to the March/April issue of ‘ESF at work’.
The latest ESF news is on page 2. On page 3 are details of Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt’s recent visit to an ESF-funded project in Lincoln. Here the Progress into Work project is offering women from deprived areas opportunities for work-related training and learning.
Findings from new research on the effectiveness of ESF Global Grants are examined on page 4. On page 5 we take a look at the new ESF gender equality and equal opportunities mainstreaming plan. Our case study shows how ESF is challenging stereotypes in Cornwall where a 16-year-old female is training to
be a mechanic.Our regular funding opportunities update and looking forward information are on pages 6 and 7.Please be sure to forward ‘ESF at work’ to your colleagues and we are always grateful to receive any ideas for articles.
Pictured: Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt meeting Progress to Work participants in Lincoln.
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Issue 01 November/December 2007
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ESF at work Investing in jobs and skills
WelcomeWelcome to ESF at work, the new e-zine for the new European Social Fund (ESF) programme for England and Gibraltar.
The new programme will invest £4 billion in employment and skills between 2007–2013, of which £2 billion will come from the ESF.
ESF at work will report on how this investment is improving people’s lives. In the first edition, we focus on the launch of the new programme and the new ESF DVD. In future editions we will showcase the activities and achievements of ESF projects.
We encourage you to disseminate ESF at work widely within your networks and organisations. We also want to receive your ideas for ESF projects to feature in future editions.
Welcome
News
New ESF programme launched
New ESF DVD
Funding opportunities
Regional ESF Frameworks and Co-financing
Looking forward
Pictured: from left to right: James Bennetts (Fifteen Cornwall project), Commissioner Vladimír Špidla, DWP Minister James Plaskitt, Eugene Carr (Newco project) and Ciril
Deveraux (Dido project) at the ESF launch.
➜ Go to the survey
Looking forward
Work is nearly completed on the national ESF sustainable development mainstreaming plan. The plan explains what sustainable development means in the context of the ESF, including the responsibilities of Co-financing Organisations and providers.
The key aims of the national sustainable development mainstreaming plan are to:
• demonstrateahighlevelcommitmentto sustainable development
• ensurethatmainstreaminghappensby developing the knowledge capacity of Managing Authority and Co-financing Organisation staff through training and practical guidance
• ensurethatsustainabledevelopment becomes highly visible including through a new national award to recognise good practice
• monitorandreportonprogress
•evaluatetheeffectsofsustainable development.
The plan is currently being finalised by the ESF Sustainable Development sub-committee and is expected to be available on the ESF website in September. More information will be provided in the next issue of the e-zine.
➜ ESF across the UK and Europe
➜ Government Offices
ESF linksInformation on ESF across the UK and Europe, and regional Government Offices in England, is available from the following websites:
Let us know We want to hear from you about ESF-funded activities and achievements that could be featured in future editions of ‘ESF at work’. Please send details of successful ESF projects, events and publications.
➜ Contact us
➜ More information
➜ South East celebrations
A one day dissemination and networking event will take place on Tuesday 16 September in Guildford. Hosted by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), the event will promote the outcomes and celebrate the strategic impact and success of the ESF Co-financing programme over the past four years.
Over 100 stakeholders and partners are expected to attend, including the European Commission, the Department for Work and Pensions, Government Office for the South East, the SEEDA Board and the Regional Assembly, alongside representatives of South East Co-financing Organisations, ESF providers and project participants.
In addition to keynote speeches, project stands will be on display and there will be an opportunity to meet providers.
Mainstreaming sustainable development
Issue 05 July/August 2008 www.esf.gov.uk
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Previous page ‘ESF at work’ is distributed bi-monthly to subscribing email addresses and is also available on the national ESF website.
Welcome
News
London celebrations
Adult Learners’ Week
Equal opportunities
New ESF projects
Readers’ survey
Looking forward
