This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Euro funding for voluntary projects
24/11/2006
Over 50 voluntary sector projects are among 162 projects that will benefit from the Executive's decision to extend a funding programme for a further six months, it was announced today.
A total of £5.46 million will be distributed according to the current Objective 3 European Structural Funds programme (2000-2006). The money comes from underspends on other projects funded by the programme.
Four new Strucural Funds programmes will operate from 2007-2013 - the format of those programmes is currently out for consultation.
Allan Wilson said:
"We are committed to making a smooth transition from the current European Structural Funds Programmes to the next one. The delay in implementing the new programmes has been frustrating and I am well aware of the challenges that face a number of sectors with the decline in EU funding overall.
"We are currently consulting on the new Operational Programmes, to have them established as early into next year as possible. But it was because we recognised that delay could have a significant impact on some organisations that I announced earlier this month a £12 million shadow funding round, to run in January and with a view to decisions being taken by Easter.
"I am committed to helping those who support the most vulnerable groups in society. That is why I am happy to announce today that we are able to make over £5 million available to 162 projects, 51 of those working in the voluntary sector.
"Each project is making a difference - and it is through close partnership working that we will develop a new Structural Funds programme that improves the lives of as many Scots as possible."
Background
The funding announced today represents recycled underspends and decommittments from the current programme - ploughed back into the programme for redistribution. Full details are available at www.objective3.org
A specific prolongation round was held for all Objective 3 projects which are due to finish in December 2006. Applications were received for 162 projects, among which were a number from 51 voluntary sector organisations. All projects have been approved to continue for a further six months at a total cost of £5.46 million - voluntary sector projects accounting for £1.85 million of that.
European Structural Funds help reinforce and add value to a number of the Scottish Executive's key policies such as the Framework for Economic Development in Scotland, Workforce Plus - An Employability Framework for Scotland, Closing the Opportunity Gap, Regeneration Policy Statement, the NEET Strategy, More Choices More Chances, Smart Successful Scotland, and the Lifelong Learning Strategy.
Over £1.1 billion of European funding has been available across all the European Structural Fund Programmes over the 2000-06 period. The Scottish Executive acts as the Managing Authority for all of the Programmes and a number of Community Initiatives. The Objective 3 Programme is worth £357 million.
Scotland will have four new Structural Funds programmes operating from 2007-2013 - a European Regional Development Fund and a European Social Fund programme in the Highlands & Islands, and a European Regional Development Fund and a European Social Fund programme in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland. The programmes are currently out to public consultation, which will finish on 8 January 2007. The consultation is described on the Executive's Structural Funds website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/structuralfunds.
In line with the rest of the UK, Scotland's level of Structural Funds is declining from £1.1 billion between 2000 and 2006 to £490 million between 2007 and 2013.