1. The Value of ESF Community Grants in the North West NCVO Future Landscape event: Manchester 12 May 2015 Ian McHugh – ESF Project Manager, WEA

2. What is WEA?  WORKERS’ EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION  National charity with committee democratically elected by members- established 1903.  UK’s largest voluntary adult educational provider  Each year we run over 10,000 courses with over 100,000 enrolments.  We deliver all our courses through community partnerships.  Our NW region – Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester with offices in Manchester, Liverpool & Workington.

3. WEA role as ESF Grant Coordinating Body  Develop & manage ESF Community Grants Programme in NW & Merseyside 2011-2015 on behalf of the Skills Funding Agency (SFA)  In partnership with:  Voluntary Organisations Learning Alliance (VOLA),  Locality &  Community Matters  Develop & publicise application process: ensure programme supports the communities who most need it

4. ESF Community Grants  Grants of between £1,000 - £13,500  To support some of the hardest to reach communities and individuals  To help people access further learning or training that could lead to employment  Available from January 2014 until July 2015, with 3 funding rounds  Merseyside - £728,000 (£266,000 2012-13)  Rest of NorthWest - £2,860,000 (£1,482,000)

5. Who has benefited? (1)  Over 12,000 people out of work in NW access to learning and support that improves employability (progression towards the labour market)

6. ESF Target Group & Priority Groups  The ESF Target Group – unemployed or economically inactive people 19 years & over from hardest to reach communities.  Not limited to particular geographical areas - pockets of need throughout the NW region  Within the target group, 5 particular priority groups identified

7. ESF Priority Groups  Women  People with disabilities or health conditions (including learning difficulties, mental health, drug & alcohol dependency)  People aged 50 & over and seeking employment  Lone parents  Black & Minority Ethnic communities However, applications not limited to those groups – also covering 19-25, homeless, ex-offenders, other adults underrepresented in labour market

8. 2012-13 outcomes  4885 learners enrolled across NW  For those beneficiaries where data available (NB collection not mandatory) at least: 569 gained qualifications 273 went on to further training 260 went into employment (including self- employment)

9. 2014-15 outcomes to date  At least 7,500 learners anticipated  First 11 projects to submit full final reports had 400 enrolments, of whom:  367 completed the course  79 gained qualifications  109 went on to further training  104 went into employment (including self- employment)

10. Who has benefited? (2)  445 grants to smaller voluntary organisations –route to developing greater confidence and expertise to deliver employment and skills training

11. Supporting grass roots community groups and smaller voluntary organisations  Aimed at small constituted community and voluntary groups, registered charities & charitable companies (limited by guarantee).  Social enterprises e.g. Community Interest Companies (CIC) also eligible  Organisations with income of no more than £300,000 per year in last financial year  Employing no more than 9 FTE staff  160 awards made in NW in 2012-13 (£1.6m)  285 awards made in NW in 2014 (£3.5m)

12. Capacity Building Over £570,000 has also been available 2012-15 in extra support - up to £1,500 per group for both funded groups and unsuccessful applicants  Training for organisations rather than individuals  To ‘improve delivery to ESF priority groups’  Wide in scope, but including  Developing quality of teaching and learning  Development of accreditation  Gearing up to bid for contracts

13. 2015 focus group highlights  Community grants capable of reaching those most in need  Value added by community projects in attracting students from hard to reach communities (compared to more formal settings such as colleges, commercial providers etc.)

14. Students report:  Increased confidence, self esteem, improved mental health  Decreased social isolation  Newly found sense of direction & purpose  Developing skills and employment opportunities  Access to wider opportunities and support beyond the project

15. The Value of ESF Community Grants in the North West Question & Answer Session

16.  ESF Grants Team, WEA North West Region, 4 th floor, Crawford House, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9GH  Email: ESFgrants@wea.org.uk  Tel: 0161 277 5403  Twitter: @ESFnw  www.nw.wea.org.uk/esf_grants/about Contact Details: