18 October 2005 - Publication of DWP Research Report 287: Evaluation of the European Social Fund Objective 3 Global Grants Programme
The England ESF Objective 3 programme provides £2.9 billion to support national employment and skills policies in 2000-06. A small amount of ESF funding – at least one per cent in each region – is distributed through streamlined bidding procedures in the form of ‘Global Grants’ (with a maximum value of £10,000 per grant) to community groups that would not otherwise access ESF. As of the end of February 2005, £11.9 million in ESF funding had been spent on the Objective 3 Global Grants programme across England.
The key findings were:
- The research shows that the Global Grants programme is achieving its objective of making it easier for community groups to access small amounts of ESF to help disadvantaged people move closer to the labour market.
- The specific delivery mechanisms of the intermediary bodies that distribute Global Grants appeared to be a key factor in explaining the success of Global Grants.
- The accessibility and flexibility of the provision and support provided by groups funded through Global Grants, meant that excluded and disadvantaged individuals had been able to benefit from the programme.
- Many individual beneficiaries participating in Global Grants funded projects had gained new skills and increased their confidence, motivation and self-esteem.
- The Global Grants programme had also impacted positively on many grant recipient organisations, helping to build their organisational capacity and improving their sustainability longer term
- Respondents noted how Global Grants funded projects had acted as catalysts to increasing community involvement and improved social cohesion, in addition to providing tangible benefits such as improved local facilities.
- The intermediary bodies that distribute Global Grants had also had their organisational profile, visibility and standing in the community enhanced as a result of delivering the programme.
- All regions spent the minimum share of at least one per cent of their ESF budget on Global Grants, and four regions spent between two per cent and three per cent. In other regions, it was not possible to spend much more than one per cent due to many intermediary bodies being unable to source sufficient amounts of match funding. Match funders’ geographic, project type and target group restrictions were a further constraint.
Notes To Editors:
- The 2000-06 ESF England Objective 3 programme provides £2.9 billion to support domestic labour market programmes and policies. By the end of March 2005, 1.75 million people had benefited from the support of a wide variety of ESF projects. Most funding is targeted on unemployed and economically inactive people, and some funding is used to support employee development.
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