European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grant Programme

2. European Social Fund (ESF) Community Grant Programme Wednesday 12th June 2019

3. Welcome • Hartlepool Borough Council, in partnership with Darlington Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council, Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, were awarded the Tees Valley ESF Community Grants Fund. • Hartlepool is the Lead Accountable Body for the ESF Community Grants Programme. • Hartlepool will employ a dedicated Project Team to manage the ESF Community Grants Programme. • There is a dedicated Steering Group represented by the five Local Authorities and Grant Award Panel

4. Aim of the Programme (1) • The programme will disseminate grants from £10,000 to £20,000 to third sector and other small organisations. • These grants will be for the purpose of mobilising disadvantaged or excluded unemployed and inactive people to enable their progress towards employment. The key objectives are shown below: • Engage with marginalised individuals and support them to re-engage with education, training, or employment; • Support a range of activities aimed at assisting the disadvantaged or excluded to move closer to the labour market; and • Provide support to the hardest to reach communities and individuals to access employment or further learning and training.

5. Aim of the Programme (2) • The programme will complement and avoid duplication with existing provision available in the Tees Valley including Youth Employment Initiative, Routes to Work, Step Forward Tees Valley, Big Lottery Fund, Local Authority etc. • The grants will be targeted to ensure the active engagement of key stakeholders including Third Sector Organisations. • The programme will reflect local needs so that it continues to respond to changing priorities in the Tees Valley.

6. ESF Grant Allocation for Tees Valley • The maximum amount of grants available for each Local Authority area was calculated on need as shown below: • If grant funding is not issued to the levels indicated above then they would be re-apportioned and this will be subject to agreement from the Steering Group.

7. Eligibility • All learners will meet the eligibility criteria for the ESF Programme and they must be: • Legally resident in the UK and reside in the Tees Valley; • Able to take paid employment in a European Union Member State; • Aged 16+ and be Unemployed or Inactive. • The organisations will need to be eligible to receive a Community Grant as highlighted below: • Be a Third Sector Organisation, or; • Small Organisation (Defined as employing less than 49 FTE and annual turnover of equal to or under €10m);

8. Contract Targets (1) • The start date was 1st April 2019 and the final date for starts and grant awards is 31st December 2020. • All activity must be completed by 31st July 2021 with the final claim in October 2021 as part of the Final Return. • The overall targets and contract value are shown below:

9. Contract Targets (2) • The breakdown of the programme targets by Local Authority area are shown below:

10. Priority Groups • The programme will be targeted to benefit participants within the relevant priority groups as set out below: • Participants over 50 years of age – 295 (14%) • Participants with disabilities – 463 (22%) • Participants from ethnic minorities – 253 (12%) • Participants who are Women – 758 (36%) • The programme must actively engage and endeavour to work with long term unemployed Tees Valley residents which is classified as: • Aged 18-24 (6 Months Unemployed) • Aged 25 plus (12 Months Unemployed)

11. What we are Looking for? • The projects funded by the ESF Community Grants Programme must be delivered by the Recipient Organisation within the Tees Valley. • A range of activities can be delivered including, but not limited to: • First contact engagement activities that benefit participants who are not normally in contact with official organisations such as Jobcentre Plus. • Projects to improve confidence, motivation and social integration through different activities such as sports, gardening, music and art. • Developing local networks and groups to support people to progress into employment or access learning through Job Clubs. • Softer skills development including assertiveness, anger management, self-esteem and motivation which are vital skills for the world of work. • Innovative approaches to attract under-represented participant groups into learning such as those from ethnic minorities.

12. What you need to consider? • It is the responsibility of eligible organisations wishing to apply for the ESF Community Grants to outline what activities it will deliver that will: • Meet local need; • Effectively engage the target group; • Add value to existing provision, and; • Ensure that all outcomes are achieved for the ESF Community Grants Programme. • You should contact a representative from your Local Authority before submitting an application to ensure that your proposed offer will meet the specific local need.

13. Awards Process (1) • The application process will be on a rolling basis and will be open, transparent and provide grants till December 2020. • The application documents for the Community Grants will be made available on the Local Authority Websites and through their Social Media Platforms providing organisations with: • Programme Guidance Notes • ESF Funding Rules • Blank Grant Application Form • Evaluation Framework • ESIF Branding & Publicity Guidance • Timetable for Grant Applications • Standardised Learner Paperwork

14. Awards Process (2) • All applications will be assessed against the Evaluation Assessment Framework by the ESF Community Grant Project Team • The grant applications will then be presented to the Grants Award Panel for final ratification based on the evaluation and economic need of the relevant locality. • The Project Team will then inform all applicants if their application has been successful and if not they will receive constructive feedback from the Project Team.

15. Awards Process (3) • If the application is successful then the organisation will receive a conditional offer subject to Due Diligence and an executed Grant Agreement. • An organisation can only have one active community grant and if they want to submit further applications then they will need to show differentiation which will be assessed by the Grant Awards Panel.

16. Payments Schedule The payment schedule will be: • 33% upfront after an executed Grant Agreement; • 33% in the middle of your project subject to a satisfactory audit from the ESF Project Team, and; • 34% at the end of your profile when the targets have been achieved and all financial and performance evidence has been checked and approved by ESF Project Team.

17. Performance Reporting Requirements • As part of the ESFA requirements grant recipients must complete a monthly monitoring form, which will incorporate items such as the following: • Progress of Community Grant • Employer and Partner Engagement • Number of Profile/Actual Starts • Number of Soft Outcomes • Number of Profile/Actual Progressions: • Employment • Further Learning/Education • Case Studies

18. Learner Paperwork • Grant Recipients will receive Standardised Learner Paperwork which must be fully completed. • Eligibility Form • Individual Learning Plan (ILP) • Contact Log • Progression Outcome Form • Participant Expenditure Form • Satisfaction Questionnaire • Completed Learner Paperwork will be audited by ESF Project Team and if not fully completed with be rejected and returned which may impact on your payment schedule.

19. Finance Requirements • The Grant Recipient will need to retain financial evidence to substantiate how the grant has been spent against your proposed Financial Profile Spreadsheet and ESF/ESFA Funding Rules • All expenditure must be defrayed and shown within your Bank Statement to substantiate spend which will be audited by the ESF Project Team and External ESF Auditors • The Grant Recipient will need to submit accurate Individual Learner Record (ILR) Data including progression evidence for each Learner on their Community Grant Programme

20. Eligible Expenditure • Staff costs (where not already funded through other sources). • Running costs of the project (e.g. stationery, room hire, marketing and publicity costs etc.) All expenditure needs to be solely for the purposes of the programme and defrayed through your Bank Account. • Skills training and other course costs. • Capital purchases under £1000 (i.e. small capital items in line with ESF guidance – a computer, monitor, keyboard, printer and software counts as one item). You will need to explain why this item is necessary in order for you to deliver the project. • Costs directly associated with the participant’s involvement in the project for example, travel costs, dependent care costs while taking part in project activities. You will need keep evidence including receipts for all expenditure showing defrayment through your Bank Account.

21. Ineligible Expenditure (1) • Core costs of running your organisation other than those directly associated with delivery of the project. • Any costs not directly associated with the running of the grant funded project or which are not solely for your project. • Any costs that have been incurred (invoiced or payment made from your bank account) before the start date or after the end date of your project if your application is successful. • Any costs that cannot be fully evidenced back to your organisation’s nominated project bank account or that do not meet the evidence requirements

22. Ineligible Expenditure (2) • Any bank charges or legal fees. • Volunteer time cannot be funded through the project. • Items which only benefit individuals; for example bursaries, prizes and gift vouchers. • Activities promoting religious beliefs or political activities. • Activities that the State has a legal obligation to provide e.g. education. • Fundraising activities for your organisation or any other group or activity. • Contingency costs.

23. Data Retention & Maintaining Evidence • Grant Recipients must retain all relevant project documentation, such as Financial evidence and Learner Paperwork until 31st December 2030. • However, please note that no evidence can be destroyed until approved by ESF and Government.

24. Local Authority Contacts • Darlington Borough Council – Paul Richardson 01325 406015 or Paul.Richardson@darlington.gov.uk • Hartlepool Borough Council – Jon Wright 01429 857074 or Jon.Wright@hartlepool.gov.uk • Middlesbrough Council – Claire Kemp 01642 811400or Claire.Kemp@mcls.ac.uk • Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council – David Coates 01642 771246 or David.Coates@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk • Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council – Carolyn Chubb 01642 677600 or Carolyn.Chubb@stockton.gov.uk

25. Any Questions? ESF Project Team Contact Details Tel. 01429 857074 Email. ESF.CommunityGrants@hartlepool.gov.uk