Global Grants

A Global Grantsi Programme is operating in the North West. These are small grants of up to £6000 maximum designed to help develop Local Social Capital in deprived neighbourhoods. Global Grants are provided as part of the 2000-2006 Objective 3i ESFi Programme to build on the Local Social Capital (LSCi) pilot projects funded through Article 6 of the 1994-99 ESF Regulation. The activities funded would not normally be the subject of an ESF application but will facilitate progression towards the labour market as a key theme for those most disadvantaged in accessing the labour market.
Voluntary and community organisations wishing to access a small grant will need to submit a short application form to the relevant intermediary body (see below for contact details). If successful, these organisations will receive the grant without having to find any match fundingi. This simplified approach makes it easier for organisations to get hold of small grants. Successful organisations will be required to provide information for monitoring on how they are using their grant.
It is intended that Objective 3 Global Grants will,

  • Focus on the same range of activities and functions as the Local Social Capital projectsi
  • Draw on the lessons from the GB 1994-99 Objective 3 Programme (in particular the Priorityi 4 capacity-building projects)
  • Make sure that organisations use Global Grants to help solve major problems in the labour market and, in particular, follow the Social Exclusion Unit’s recommendations

It is important that Global Grants are not only a flexible tool in the region, but that they are used in line with the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy. The final recommendations on the action plan to take forward neighbourhood renewal have been published. The major issue which the Social Exclusion Unit is looking at is that although the labour market is doing well, there are still important areas where people are not given the same opportunities as other people. These ‘pockets of deprivation’ still exist even though there have been attempts to improve the situation over many years, and they are an important challenge that requires co-ordinated effort across government departments. It is therefore essential that Global Grants focus on activities that support social inclusion. This means that activities need to focus on the areas of deprivation identified within the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.
To make sure Global Grants support the National Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (NNRS), potential applicants should target either areas of greatest deprivation or groups that are in greatest need in the labour market. This will include,

  • People with disabilities
  • Lone parents
  • Ethnic minorities
  • The over 50s
  • The local authority districts which have the highest number of people out of work

The NNRS contains a list of the 157 areas that contain at least one of the 10% most deprived wards. It also highlights the most deprived 88 authorities, which will be eligible for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF). The NRF would be a possible source of match funding if you are working in these areas.

Key Points

  • Global Grants awards will be given for regional needs that would not normally be the subject of an ESF application
  • All spending must be on costs eligible for ESF funding
  • All activities should have progression towards the labour market as a key theme but they can go further than training courses. They may include activities that increase motivation, confidence or improve interpersonal skills
  • Providers can measurei activities which move people towards employment in terms of ‘distance travelledi’ or ‘soft outcomesi’

Although at first Global Grants might sound like capacity buildingi actions there is a clear difference between the two. Capacity building involves helping to develop organisations so that they can then support other groups or individuals. This is distinct from Global Grants where individuals or groups directly benefit from activities to move them towards the labour market.

The Paperwork Associated with Global Grants includes,

  • The application form - this is for organisations wishing to apply to you for a grant
  • The contract – this outlines the conditions the grant applicant should keep to, a breakdown of their budget and the activities they intend to carry out
  • The monitoring form – this is for the grant applicant to indicate how they have spent the money under various headings

Potential applicants seeking further information should address their enquiries to the appropriate Intermediary Body as below,

Cumbria

Andrew Beeforth
Cumbria Community Foundation
Unit 6b, Lakeland Business
Park, Cockermouth
Cumbria
CA13 0QT
Tel: 01900 825 7600
Website: www.cumbriafoundation.org

Cheshire

David Hennessey
Positive Learning Fund
Vale Royal CVS
Waterside House
Navigation Road
Northwich, Cheshire
CW8 1BT
Tel: 01606 723183

Lancashire

Colette Taylor
Lancashire County Developments Ltd
1st Floor, Robert House
2 Starkie Street
Preston
PR1 3LU
Tel: 01772 551888
Website: www.lcdl.co.uk/rosebud_fund/index.asp

Greater Manchester

Paul Evans
Association of Greater Manchester Authorities
Wigan Investment Centre, Waterside Drive
Wigan
WN3 5BA
Tel: 01942 705723