This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Projects approved for gap funding
02/04/2007
The potential funding gap for valuable employability and social inclusion projects across Scotland has been bridged today thanks to the European Social Fund (ESF) Shadow Round.
Deputy Minister for Enterprise Allan Wilson announced 58 successful projects that will receive a share of £10.4 million. This funding has been provided by the Executive ahead of the new European Regional Fund programmes being implemented.
The Minister established the ESF Shadow Round to ensure that important projects which help some of the most vulnerable groups in society could still receive support despite delays to the 2007-2013 European programme. In addition to the Shadow Round, £10.5 million has been recycled from underspends to ensure the prolongation of many existing Objective 3 projects, extending them to the end of December 2007.
Mr Wilson said:
"In November I made a commitment to ensure gap funding for a range of vulnerable groups and announce the successful projects before Easter - today I am delighted to deliver on both of these commitments.
"I'm pleased to say that around 50 per cent of the applications for the Shadow Round came from the voluntary sector and almost all of these projects have been offered assistance.
"Many of these projects will address important issues such as reducing the NEET group (Not in Employment, Education or Training), and tackling poverty and disadvantage to get people back in the workplace.
"In addition to implementing the Shadow Round, we have continued to recycle underspends in the existing programmes to ensure a smooth transition between ESF programmes.
"For example, in the Objective 3 ESF programme we have been able to use these underspends to prolong support to 394 existing projects awarding a further £10.5 million. And a round of awards in December allowed additional activity in the Highlands & Islands.
"We are the only country in the UK to provide interim funding - this is because we value the work of our voluntary sector and the great work that can now be taken forward through projects all across Scotland."
Amongst the national projects to receive funding are:
The Princes Trust
The Princes Trust has been offered £311,099 through the Highlands & Islands and Lowlands & Uplands Scotland Shadow Round. Split between two projects; Highland Recharge, (offered £21,570) and Developing the potential of Scotland's most disadvantaged young people, (offered £289,529) respectively, each aims to assist young people (16 -25) in overcoming challenging and multiple barriers, enabling them to move into sustained employment, education or training across Scotland.
A Chance for Change
£227,215 has been offered to the Venture Trust for its project, A Chance for Change. This project is aimed at people throughout Scotland who are not in employment, education or training (NEET group) and who face several challenges which prevent them obtaining jobs and taking part in main stream training. Residential-based personal development courses run at its base in the village of Applecross, will see participants complete challenging courses ranging from five days to three weeks. Following completion of the course, it is expected that 50percent of participants will move into employment and with a further 40percent entering further education, training or voluntary work. The Venture Trust works alongside Fairbridge in Scotland, Foyer Federation and the Prince's Trust.
Black Community Skills Project
Skillnet has been offered £171,700 from the Shadow Round for the Black Community Skills Project. The project will involve participants, men and women, from the Black and Ethnic communities of Edinburgh who are socially, economically excluded and furthest from the labour market. Assistance will be given, through individual Personal Development plans, to help participants overcome issues such as lack of knowledge and experience of the Scottish labour market, lack of recognised qualifiacations, deprivation and poverty. They will also receive careers and employment guidance. By taking part in this project participants will gain increased self confidence, employability, education and careers opportunities which will help them to gain sustainable employment.
Early & Mid Life Transitions Support for Deaf People
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People has been offered £90,208 for their Early & Mid Life Transitions Support For Deaf People project which will be delivered in the Edinburgh / Glasgow areas and introduce two new programmes of work. The first is aimed at people aged 16 -24, with the second focussing on people 25 and above. Both will offer a tailor-made package of life and basic skills coaching, peer support, provision of information, advice, guidance and training. Volunteering placements will also be used to smooth the transition towards sustainable employment. In addition the project will prepare young deaf and hard of hearing people for further and higher education. Finally the project will integrate employers and educational bodies into the support structure provided for deaf and hard of hearing people within the target area.
The Executive committed to providing funding to bridge the gap caused by the delayed start to the 2007-13 Structural Funds programmes. The Shadow Round was limited to Priority 1 in the Highlands and Islands and the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland ESF programes, which focuses on social inclusion/employability activities.
Two new Intermediary bodies (IABs) have been appointed to deal with the administration of the new programmes. For the Lowland and Uplands Programme (LUPS) the body is ESEP Ltd, and for the Highlands and Islands area the body is HIPP Ltd.
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 / Highlands & Islands, and the Lifelong Learning Strategy.
4. Scotland will have four new Structural Funds programmes operating from 2007-2013 - a European Regional Development Fund programme and a European Social Fund programme in the Highlands and Islands, and a European Regional Development Fund programme and a European Social Fund programme in Lowlands and Uplands Scotland. The aim is to submit the programmes to the European Commission shortly.
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.