Europe Direct Leeds

Europe Direct Network  Nearly 500 Europe Direct centres across European Union Member States  Leeds is 1 of 16 in the UK, established 2006 and hosted by Library Service, part of LCC  Max 25,000 euros annual funding from EU (Leeds bid 20,500 € has to be match funded)

What are Europe Directs  Enable European Commission to communicate with general public at local level.  The services of the centres are free  Public can use them to feedback to EU and its institutions

In more detail, ED role  Help citizens  get practical information and advice on exercising their rights in the European Union  learn more about the EU, and in so doing, motivate them to use their vote  Actively promote local & regional debate on EU topics.  Provide feedback from citizens to the EU institutions

How ?  Enquiry service  Travelling, Living, Studying and Working in Europe  EU Facts and Figures  How the EU works (Parliament, Commission, Council of Ministers) and makes decisions  How do EU decisions affect me?  EU’s history, achievements  EU Funding and projects  Free internet access to EU websites  Free publications, brochures & guides  Free EU resources for teachers  Info about EU in any of the official EU languages.

How?  Conferences, events, activities, competitions, roadshows  Displays  Europe Direct Leeds website- Bringing Europe To You!   Europe Talk monthly enewsletter to schools, community groups  Twitter  Facebook

 Around 70 activities per year  New Year, New Start – successful event at Reginald Centre last January 2012  Leap into Action – event with Chamber last Feb  ‘Ageing Well in Leeds’ conference and marketplace event plannd for Oct at Leeds Museum  Work, Enterprise and Inventors Clubs badged  Lots of other events Outreach detail

Work with Partners  Leeds City Council – Sustainable Development Unit, International Relations, Fairtrade steering group, Leeds Museums, Adult Social Care – Community Forum for Race Equality, Education Leeds, Older People’s Forum  European Movement, European Commission, European Parliament, European Information Association  Voluntary Action Leeds, Groundwork, BTCV, Fairtrade steering group  Leeds University, Leeds Metropolitan University,  EURES, Enterprise Europe, Everything’s Possible  More – too many to mention !

 Current overall bid for 4 years ends March 2013  Annual work programme has to be approved  Information service module is mandatory €  Others are optional – 2011/2 we bid for  Information service  3 x major events 2000€ each  Website €, Newsletter 500€  Next round for 5 years Getting the money

European Commission requirements  Communication priorities set by EU  Our submitted work programme must reflect them  Our funding is dependent on us fulfilling work programme – requires  Time sheets  Monthly report  Annual report

Websites and Resources  Europa - Gateway to the European Union -main site Europe Direct contact centre multilingual enquiry service Europa Europe Direct contact centre  European Sources online – in all Leeds libraries European Sources online  European Voice – Central Library European Voice  Climate Action – Energy for a changing world Climate Action  European parliament links European parliament links  Eures Job Mobility portal jobs & learning opps through Europe, vacancies in 31 European countries Eures Job Mobility portal  European Youth Portal - A gateway to citizenship and mobility for young people in Europe European Youth Portal  Study in Europe up-to-date info on 32 European countries, their universities & what it takes to live & study in them. Study in Europe

 European Commission Representation in the UK (London Office)  AGMs – have been in Warsaw, Budapest, Athens, Valletta etc  Specific training seminars, usually Brussels  Conferences  Europe Direct contact centre with multilingual staff ) from anywhere in the 27 Member States, , interactive, real-time Web- Assistance. Web- Assistance European Commission support

Thank-you! Europe Direct Leeds Information Centre, 2 nd Floor, Central Library Calverley Street, Leeds LS1 3AB Tel: