The Enterprise and Employment unit are continually seeking EU funds to apply for. Typical examples include INTERREG and CULTURE 2000.
If you would like more information about potential sources of EU funds for your activities, please contact our Customer First centre on 01253 477477.
The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the main European Structural Funds aimed at combating unemployment and retraining people to help them retain their jobs. GONW and LSC are key providers of this funding.
European Objective 2 Priority 2 Funding
Blackpool has benefited from millions of pounds of funding since securing eligible status for Objective 2 Priority 2 (P2) support under the European Commission’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The main focus of priority 2 is “people and communities” and funding seeks to promote social and economic integration for people belonging to low income, discriminated and other excluded groups across the North West Objective 2 Programme Area.
In 2003, ERDF funding from this stream available to Blackpool totalled £2.4 million pounds. A further £978,481 was made was made available for the period 2004 – 08 and an additional successful bid for more monies has resulted in a total funding allocation of £2.8million pounds to date.
As a requirement for Objective 2 Priority 2 funding, a local Action Plan was drawn up entitled The Community Economic Development (CED) Action Plan. Blackpool’s CED Action Plan was produced by, and is being implemented under, the aegis of the Blackpool Challenge Partnership - Blackpool’s Local Strategic Partnership.
Blackpool Council acts as the Accountable Body responsible to the Government Office for the North West (GONW). ERDF is run by the European Commission, but the administration and distribution of the funds is delegated to national governments.
In the UK, the ERDF is administered by regional government offices. To enable Blackpool Council to fulfil its remit and to ensure effective programme management, a section of Blackpool’s Enterprise and Employment Division serves as the Action Plan Secretariat for Objective 2 funding.
The purpose of the Priority 2 Action Plan
The purpose of the Action Plan is to strengthen communities in the eligible areas of Blackpool through increased community and individual participation. The Action Plan aims to increase community and individual participation in near employment activities, raising both employability, skill levels, capacity building and removing barriers to employment.
The Action Plan also acts as a framework to ensure planned ERDF funding operates effectively with other funding programmes, notably the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Rounds 2 and 6 and the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). This encourages projects that will add value and promote the efficient use of resources for the benefit of local communities and individuals.
Further information on European funding programmes in general can be found on the following websites:
www.eurofundingnw.org.uk
www.go-nw.gov.uk
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