Meeting notes Information and networking event for ESF 2014-2020 in London Thursday 4 December 2014, 10am - 1pm The Lift, 45 White Lion St, London N1 9PW (nearest tube: Angel) Speakers: Tawhid Qureshi (European Programmes Management Unit, GLA) Sufina Ahmad (Policy and Learning Manager, Big Lottery Fund) Sandra Turner (EU and International Manager, NCVO) Kenneth Marshall (Market Entry Team, Skills Funding Agency) Karen Azaadi (London Councils) Steve Kerr (Policy Manager, LVSC) Presentations All presentations are available on VCS Assist website here: http://bit.ly/1sftdCQ Summary notes from presentation by Karen Azaadi, London Councils Last week the London Councils Grants Committee approved £2million match funding to continue our pan London ESF programme. We hope to be confirmed as a local match funder in the 2014-2020 ESF programme early next year. If we are successful we could launch the new programme as early as April 2015. We expect to stay with our current approach: open and competitive procurement process; focus on social inclusion, poverty, skills, enterprise development; a focus mostly on economically inactive adults; contract size of up to £500,000; funding the VCSE sector. London Councils runs three ESF programmes: the main pan-London ESF programme (match funded against our borough grants scheme); programmes in individual boroughs; and the Community Grants programme. We are reviewing our approach to commissioning and procurement so we’d love to hear your views on this. Questions for Sufina Ahmad, Big Lottery Fund: Q. Does a ‘June 2015 launch’ mean that the applications will open in June 2015 or that the successful projects will commence in June 2015? A. We expect the tender opportunity will open to applicants in June 2015. Q. Will any organisation that receives development funding definitely go on to get full funding? A. Applicants will need to opt in to get the development finding, and make the case to us that it is needed. Applicants who receive development funding but who are ultimately unsuccessful will not have the money clawed back. The development finding is pure Lottery money, not ESF. Q. Will the Building Better Opportunities programme take money away from the other good causes that Lottery funds? A. No, the ESF match is from our strategic fund, there will be no reduction in our demand-led funding. Q. Will the development funding be open to all sectors or just VCS? A. It has to be open to anyone, but the applicant has to make the case that it is needed. Q. What will the size of the Building Better Opportunity grants be? A. This will be driven by the LEP. We’re working with the LEP to develop project outlines which will include decisions on grant sizes. The London LEP is indicating that it wants large grants. Q. Isn’t there a danger that Building Better Opportunity will go to private and public sector organisations? A. It’s a concern but we believe we’ve got it under control. We don’t believe we’ll be inundated in applications from private and public sector applications. The purpose of the programme development funding is to warm up the VCSE sector to take forward high quality applications. Q. Are there any restrictions on who can apply for BBO, e.g. minimum turnover? A. Any VCSE organisations can apply. There are no restrictions in terms of turnover, but applicants will need to be an appropriate size to manage the grant. Questions for Tawhid Qureshi, GLA Q. Some client groups seem to be missing that would fit within the 20% target for social inclusion, for example clients with multiple complex needs including homelessness, mental health, and substance use. How will they be supported? A. The Targeted NEET provision will focus on some of those groups. Q. When will we know which Opt-In Organisation is commissioning which strand of the programme? A. We are still working on this, but at this stage the Youth Employment and Adult Skills programmes will probably be commissioned by the SFA, the Adult Employment strands by DWP. Q. Will there be any opportunities for direct bidding in the new programme? A. There will be some direct commissioning in the programme but our approach is to make sure the Opt-In model and programmes are finalised and working properly before considering direct bidding applications. Q. Will the geographic clusters vary between different commissioners? A. We are trying to ensure there is consistency but the exact clusters are yet to be determined by Opt-Ins. Q. If commissioners want effective partnership and consortia, they need to provide key information on the contracts in advance of the tender – geography, contract size, payment model, and performance expectation. Will this happen? A. We can’t make details of contract specifications available before procurement takes place, but there will be market warming events early next year which will include some more detail of the specs. Questions for Ken Marshall, SFA Q. Can partnerships sign up on the register? A. Yes but it needs to be clear who is ultimately accountable. Q. What are the most common reasons that organisations fail to get on the register? A. Often it’s just that people make mistakes and don’t follow the guidance and answer the questions properly – for examples submitting incomplete financial records. Q. How do organisations who are not already on the register find out when it is open for new applications? A. They need to keep checking the website https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sfa-register-of-training-organisations. If you are registered on the Bravo etendering portal you’ll receive an alert when the register opens for applications. And if you’re on the register, make sure you keep your contact details up to date – we get a lot of bounce backs. Q. What is the process for providers on the register to update their details? A. It’s basically the same as the initial registration process. Important links • GLA’s ESF frequently asked questions document (updated regularly): http://lep.london/EU • SFA Register: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sfa-register-of-trainingorganisations • VCS Assist website: www.vcsassist.org.uk Delegate List First Name Abu Ademola Alex Alice Alyson Amanda Andrea Andrew Anna Anthony Anthony Barbara Bobbi Brenda Brian Bronwen Charlotte Chilli Chris Chris Christian Claire Dave David Deirdre Ed Eugene Grace Graeme Graham Helen Helen Herman Ian Ian Ian Ian Last Name Shahriyer Adeniji Hendra Anselmi Hosking Balls Farley-Moore Lawton Peaston Harmer Savage Deason Banks Drummond Jones James Gibson Reid Price Harrison Tilleray Helman Ahlquist Hermanstein McGrath Colverson Blavo Aghoghovbia Jones Parry Carey Mobey Irish Bland Whitehead Lawry D'Souza Organisation Catch 22 Learn Through The Arts Inclusion London Access Europe Network Shaw Trust Renaisi LVSC Refugee Council Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) ELATT Westway Trust Centrepoint MLB Learning Solutions Peter Bedford Housing Association Groundswell Lewisham Council AdviceUK Pecan Prison Advice and Care Trust (Pact) Vital Regeneration Aston-Mansfield Tower Hamlets Community Transport West Euston Partnership LVSC Catch 22 Making The Leap MTL Unique Personnel (UK) Limited Hillside Clubhouse Groundwork London Refugee Council CfBT Education Trust Paralegal Charity Community Options Citizens Trust Sobus Skills Funding Agency Iwona Jack Jacqui Jacy James Jan Jason Jennifer Jeremy Jessica Jilesh Jo Jo Jo John Jonathan Joseph Julian Julian Julie Juliet Juliet Karen Kate Kenneth Keri Khoirul Lara Lauren Lisa Louis Lucy Lucy Lucy Maggie Marc Mark Mark Martyne Wardach Joslin Wordsworth Stewart Banks Bros Fletcher Harvey Crook Wanamaker Kacha Barter O'Connor Sage Westby Buckerfield Dobson Saunders Gibbs Parish Martin Williams Azaadi Gilbert Marshall Landau Alam Rufus O'Leary Greensill MusprattTucker Fitzpatrick Sandford Bingham Cramb Leckie Maddison Dodshon Callender Access Europe Network GAVS Gateway to Sustainability Ltd Pink Peppers Irish in Britain J-go Training Ltd. Skills Funding Agency Remploy Limited Black Training and Enterprise Group BTEG Newham NDP 5E Ltd Communities into Training and Employment Gingerbread City Gateway Affinity Sutton Crisis UK Hackney Council for Voluntary Service CVS Romford YMCA Octopus Community Network Pink Peppers London Councils Genius Within CIC Skills Funding Agency ACEVO Osmani Trust Bromley by Bow Centre Business In The Community LVSC Vital Regeneration School for Social Entrepreneurs Partnership for Young London Holloway Neighbourhood Group St Giles Trust CACT Affinity Sutton RAKtrain RedbrdigeCVS Matthew Michael Michael Michelle Mukhtar Natalie Nathan Nicola Ola Omotolani Paul Phiroza Rachael Rachel Ravi Rayhan Richard Richard Richard Rita Robert Roxy Russ Sabino Sam Sanaz Sandra Sara Sara Sara Sarah Shafiur Sharmake Sian Simin Simon Siobhan Sona Steve Steve Gillespie Kosmas Manning-Prior Furne Handule Lucas Singleton Mayell Omishola Sulu Anders Gan-Kotwal Bailey Menezes Ganti Haque Eason Abbott Goodwin Chircop Brooks Hotten McLean Miranda Obeng-Dokyi Amidi Turner Stephens Bellocchi Buchanan Crowther Rahman Diriye Jose Azimi Courage Sollis Mahtani Wood White City Gateway NXG Group Business and Education London South (BELS) Crisis UK Golden Opportunity Youth Association (GOYA) The Research Base LifeLine London Work Based Learning Alliance The Prince's Trust 50 Plus Employment Link Drugscope L B Harrow Women Like Us Gingerbread 5E Ltd Catch 22 HBV Enterprise JGA Group Greater London Authority GLA Central Eltham Youth Project St Mungo's Broadway East Thames Group (ETG) Sustainability4youth ADP Ltd Rosetta Art Centre NCVO NCVO Shaw Trust The Camden Society Refugees in Effective and Active Partnership Osmani Trust Diligence Training and Consulting. DTC Greater London Authority GLA Refugee Women's Association London Councils Kensington & Chelsea Social Council Selby Trust MRG services UK LTD Steve Sue Sufina Tawhid Teresa Tristan Tutu Uchechi Vincent Vivian Wendy Yvonna Zahra Zoe Kerr Farnsworth Ahmad Qureshi Priest Easey Adebiyi Eke Osborne Smith Baverstock Ryszkowska Abdalla Eccles LVSC Vital Regeneration Big Lottery Fund Greater London Authority GLA Walcot Foundation RAKtrain HCT Group Bidright UK Black British Classical Foundation. BBCF Headliners Tomorrow's People Workwise Projects Aylesbury Everywoman's Centre Community Links