ESF Community Grants December 2019-July 2021
Please find below an archive of the updates throughout the project.
2019-2021 Project Evaluation
Gateshead Council learningSkills were the managing agent for the Community Grants Project in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland from December 2019 to July 2021. We represented the 6 Local Authorities with a combined contract value of just under £1 million.
We supported delivery to over 700 individuals, with multiple and complex needs and challenging barriers to learning and progresison. We supported 55 Community and Third Sector organisations with grant funding to deliver innovative and diverse projects, alongside additional capacity building funding enabling them to grow their organisation and aid their COVID response and recovery.
Out of the 714 project participants (all 16+, long term unemployed/inactive at the time of enrolment), 87% succeeded in their programme with 46% progressing into employment or further learning. This was achieved despite COVID restrictions, via developing digital delivery and new ways of working being quickly implemented by organisations.
We provided extensive support to grant recipients to allow them to remain on track and meet outcomes for their learners, including funding to provide devices to learners to enable remote engagement.
Thank you to all of our partner organisations for your positive contribution to these outcomes!
5th January 2021 UPDATE:
Firstly, the LA6 Team wish you, and everyone within your organisation a Happy New Year.
We are aware that grant recipients of this fund have worked incredibly hard to operate safely and successfully for a number of months, under very difficult restrictions.
As we find ourselves today in a Tier 5 lockdown, Charity and Third Sector organisations delivering key frontline services are still able to deliver learning; either in a Covid secure face to face environment where you feel learners would struggle with remote learning and it could hinder their progress, this includes for mental health reasons, or remotely, or a blended delivery model of both. Remote learning can be delivered in any way that offers your learners the support they need; online, via telephone or email, or hand delivering workbooks and resources.
Your staff are carrying out essential duties in supporting our participants, and should be supplied with a Key Worker letter from your organisation to allow them to carry out their roles, and, if needed, secure a place at School for any dependent children.
The LA6 team are available to support with any queries, and we are happy to discuss amendments to your project plan, financial spend, or anything else that will support you in reaching those participants who require your support the most. We can also advise on completing project paperwork to meet compliance for remote delivery and evidencing learner engagement.
Please contact us with any enquiries: [email protected]
UPDATE:
Amidst the new lockdown measures as far as we are aware, community learning venues can remain open, until further notice or additional guidance is issued. We have been astounded over the past 7 months with the fantastic work achieved by our partner organisations, in ensuring learning environments are Covid secure, responding to the need for remote learning, redesigning delivery models to allow digital learning, and continuing to make a huge difference to their learners and wider community.
If there is anything the team can offer support or guidance with, please do not hesitate to contact us on the LA6 email – [email protected]. We await guidance from ESFA/ESF Management Team and will share this with you whenever it is received.
09/07/20 Round 2 to be announced
We are pleased to announce the release date for Round 2 is Monday 13th July 2020. All Round 2 information will be published under the How to Apply section.
____________________________________________________________________
22/05/20 Additional Capacity Building finance now available:
In order to support organisations in financing a remote learning response to Covid-19, additional capacity building finance is now available for:
Please email [email protected] with any requests or queries, detailing what the additional finance is to be spent on, and how this will support your organisation in responding to need by Wednesday 3rd June.
We would like to support all organisations to begin/continue their planned delivery as soon as possible via distance or remote learning. The LA6 team is happy to answer any queries around requesting changes to delivery models, via the team email [email protected].
______________________________________________________________________
31/03/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – ESFA update
The Managing Authority has sent updated guidance relating to staffing costs and indirect costs which may have arisen as a result of COVID-19.It has been confirmed that:
1. Claiming salary costs for staff wholly/partly employed on the project (either the ability to claim for sick-pay and/or for periods of self-isolation, or in the case of part employed staff the impact of reduced number of ‘on-project hours’ recorded on timesheets due to periods of self-isolation)
We recognise that projects need clarification on submitting claims for people who need to self-isolate for a period of time – if an organisation would look to provide sick pay then they can submit a claim for salary costs for a period of self-isolating as per their policy or contract with the employee. If the organisation does not provide sick pay the Statutory Sick Pay would need to be considered for periods of self-isolation.
2. If, as a consequence of COVID-19 projects have incurred cancellation and other costs related to event bookings that cannot go ahead, are these charges going to be treated as eligible expenditure by the Managing Authority?
We recognise that some projects will incur such charges relating to events and other commitments that have had to be cancelled or postponed due to the impact of COVID-19. Projects are asked to include details of such costs and supporting evidence in their next claim.
The LA6 Team will fully support you with your financial expenditure claim, and any other queries that arise from the current situation.
We expect to receive further guidance in the coming days and will share this both via email and this update page.
Please keep in touch using the LA6 email address:
[email protected]
Take care and stay safe.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
19/03/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – ACTION REQUIRED
Due to the current circumstances we expect most if not all delivery of LA6 Community Grants to be postponed.
Please can you send us an action plan detailing a proposed new start and extended end date of your project(s) – we accept this will be subject to change as the situation progresses.
All further updates will be sent via email and posted here.
Many thanks to those who have confirmed their plan so far.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16/03/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Due to the growing concern around the Coronavirus, several Round 1organisations have been in contact to review their project delivery dates. If your organisation is in this position, we are flexible to this need.
Please keep the LA6 team informed by emailing any changes to your delivery and/or project to:
[email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13/03/20 Learners aged 16 to 18 – Enrolment Advice
Young people aged 16 and 17 are Economically Inactive as they are generally unable to claim work related benefits (some exclusions apply).
Young people under the age of 18 who are NEET – or at risk of NEET- do not need to provide separate proof of a right to live and work in the UK (Nationality and Residency status)
However:
Please refer to the LA6 Team for further guidance: [email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
09/03/20 Eligibility Guidance and Self-Declaration Form
A short guide to learner eligibility listing acceptable forms of evidence for Nationality, Residency Status, NI Number and Employment Status is now available. Please use this to support your enrolments.
This guidance also explains when to use the Self-Declaration form when evidence is unavailable.
You can find both the guidance and the form under Forms and Documents – Learner Journey Paperwork – LA6 Learner Eligibility Guidance and LA6 Self-Declaration of Eligibility.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05/03/20 ESF and LA6 Logos – Publicity and Marketing
A zip file containing the ESF and LA6 logos in several different formats is now available.
You can find this under Forms and Documents - Project Paperwork – LA6 Publicity and Marketing.
Please use both logos on all recruitment, publicity and marketing materials linked with this funding.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/03/20 Monthly Monitoring form
An updated version of the Monthly Monitoring Form is now available.
You can find this under Forms and Documents - Project Paperwork saved as Version 2 Monthly Monitoring Form.
You are required to complete this form for each month from March 2020 (even if your delivery is yet to begin) until your final 40% completion payment has been made.
If you are delivering multiple projects, please complete a Monthly Monitoring Form for EACH project.
Please complete and return by the 20th of each month to:
[email protected]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28/02/20 Sending enrolments securely
Organisations are required to scan the LA6 team copies of fully completed enrolment forms within 2 weeks of the learner start date. This allows the team to monitor enrolments for eligibility and compliance.
In order to send your enrolments securely, please choose one of the two options below:
If your Organisation uses OUTLOOK:
Open a new email
Click Options
Click Permission
Set Permission as Encrypt-Only
Attach scanned enrolment form(s)
Send to [email protected]
If your Organisation DOES NOT USE OUTLOOK:
Email [email protected]
Title email: Enrolments to send
The team will send you an Encrypted email
Respond to this email with your scanned enrolment(s) and this will ensure security end to end.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]
2019-2021 Project Evaluation
Gateshead Council learningSkills were the managing agent for the Community Grants Project in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland from December 2019 to July 2021. We represented the 6 Local Authorities with a combined contract value of just under £1 million.
We supported delivery to over 700 individuals, with multiple and complex needs and challenging barriers to learning and progresison. We supported 55 Community and Third Sector organisations with grant funding to deliver innovative and diverse projects, alongside additional capacity building funding enabling them to grow their organisation and aid their COVID response and recovery.
Out of the 714 project participants (all 16+, long term unemployed/inactive at the time of enrolment), 87% succeeded in their programme with 46% progressing into employment or further learning. This was achieved despite COVID restrictions, via developing digital delivery and new ways of working being quickly implemented by organisations.
We provided extensive support to grant recipients to allow them to remain on track and meet outcomes for their learners, including funding to provide devices to learners to enable remote engagement.
Thank you to all of our partner organisations for your positive contribution to these outcomes!
5th January 2021 UPDATE:
Firstly, the LA6 Team wish you, and everyone within your organisation a Happy New Year.
We are aware that grant recipients of this fund have worked incredibly hard to operate safely and successfully for a number of months, under very difficult restrictions.
As we find ourselves today in a Tier 5 lockdown, Charity and Third Sector organisations delivering key frontline services are still able to deliver learning; either in a Covid secure face to face environment where you feel learners would struggle with remote learning and it could hinder their progress, this includes for mental health reasons, or remotely, or a blended delivery model of both. Remote learning can be delivered in any way that offers your learners the support they need; online, via telephone or email, or hand delivering workbooks and resources.
Your staff are carrying out essential duties in supporting our participants, and should be supplied with a Key Worker letter from your organisation to allow them to carry out their roles, and, if needed, secure a place at School for any dependent children.
The LA6 team are available to support with any queries, and we are happy to discuss amendments to your project plan, financial spend, or anything else that will support you in reaching those participants who require your support the most. We can also advise on completing project paperwork to meet compliance for remote delivery and evidencing learner engagement.
Please contact us with any enquiries: [email protected]
UPDATE:
Amidst the new lockdown measures as far as we are aware, community learning venues can remain open, until further notice or additional guidance is issued. We have been astounded over the past 7 months with the fantastic work achieved by our partner organisations, in ensuring learning environments are Covid secure, responding to the need for remote learning, redesigning delivery models to allow digital learning, and continuing to make a huge difference to their learners and wider community.
If there is anything the team can offer support or guidance with, please do not hesitate to contact us on the LA6 email – [email protected]. We await guidance from ESFA/ESF Management Team and will share this with you whenever it is received.
09/07/20 Round 2 to be announced
We are pleased to announce the release date for Round 2 is Monday 13th July 2020. All Round 2 information will be published under the How to Apply section.
____________________________________________________________________
22/05/20 Additional Capacity Building finance now available:
In order to support organisations in financing a remote learning response to Covid-19, additional capacity building finance is now available for:
- Organisations who DID NOT request capacity building, but would benefit from this to support distance learning, can apply for up to 30% of their grant awarded.
- Organisations who were awarded Capacity Building, but would like to request a change to their planned spend, can do so.
- Organisations who were awarded Capacity Building, but not to the maximum of 30% of their grant, can apply to 'top up' to the 30% maximum.
Please email [email protected] with any requests or queries, detailing what the additional finance is to be spent on, and how this will support your organisation in responding to need by Wednesday 3rd June.
We would like to support all organisations to begin/continue their planned delivery as soon as possible via distance or remote learning. The LA6 team is happy to answer any queries around requesting changes to delivery models, via the team email [email protected].
______________________________________________________________________
31/03/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – ESFA update
The Managing Authority has sent updated guidance relating to staffing costs and indirect costs which may have arisen as a result of COVID-19.It has been confirmed that:
1. Claiming salary costs for staff wholly/partly employed on the project (either the ability to claim for sick-pay and/or for periods of self-isolation, or in the case of part employed staff the impact of reduced number of ‘on-project hours’ recorded on timesheets due to periods of self-isolation)
We recognise that projects need clarification on submitting claims for people who need to self-isolate for a period of time – if an organisation would look to provide sick pay then they can submit a claim for salary costs for a period of self-isolating as per their policy or contract with the employee. If the organisation does not provide sick pay the Statutory Sick Pay would need to be considered for periods of self-isolation.
2. If, as a consequence of COVID-19 projects have incurred cancellation and other costs related to event bookings that cannot go ahead, are these charges going to be treated as eligible expenditure by the Managing Authority?
We recognise that some projects will incur such charges relating to events and other commitments that have had to be cancelled or postponed due to the impact of COVID-19. Projects are asked to include details of such costs and supporting evidence in their next claim.
The LA6 Team will fully support you with your financial expenditure claim, and any other queries that arise from the current situation.
We expect to receive further guidance in the coming days and will share this both via email and this update page.
Please keep in touch using the LA6 email address:
[email protected]
Take care and stay safe.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
19/03/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – ACTION REQUIRED
Due to the current circumstances we expect most if not all delivery of LA6 Community Grants to be postponed.
Please can you send us an action plan detailing a proposed new start and extended end date of your project(s) – we accept this will be subject to change as the situation progresses.
All further updates will be sent via email and posted here.
Many thanks to those who have confirmed their plan so far.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16/03/20 Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Due to the growing concern around the Coronavirus, several Round 1organisations have been in contact to review their project delivery dates. If your organisation is in this position, we are flexible to this need.
Please keep the LA6 team informed by emailing any changes to your delivery and/or project to:
[email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13/03/20 Learners aged 16 to 18 – Enrolment Advice
Young people aged 16 and 17 are Economically Inactive as they are generally unable to claim work related benefits (some exclusions apply).
Young people under the age of 18 who are NEET – or at risk of NEET- do not need to provide separate proof of a right to live and work in the UK (Nationality and Residency status)
However:
- Evidence IS required in the form of a school, national careers service or local authority referral (a letter from local authority confirming that the individual is at risk of being NEET where appropriate)
- If the referral is not coming via a local authority / public body / public employment service, then the minimum acceptable evidence will be a signed self-declaration by the participant.
Please refer to the LA6 Team for further guidance: [email protected]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
09/03/20 Eligibility Guidance and Self-Declaration Form
A short guide to learner eligibility listing acceptable forms of evidence for Nationality, Residency Status, NI Number and Employment Status is now available. Please use this to support your enrolments.
This guidance also explains when to use the Self-Declaration form when evidence is unavailable.
You can find both the guidance and the form under Forms and Documents – Learner Journey Paperwork – LA6 Learner Eligibility Guidance and LA6 Self-Declaration of Eligibility.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05/03/20 ESF and LA6 Logos – Publicity and Marketing
A zip file containing the ESF and LA6 logos in several different formats is now available.
You can find this under Forms and Documents - Project Paperwork – LA6 Publicity and Marketing.
Please use both logos on all recruitment, publicity and marketing materials linked with this funding.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
02/03/20 Monthly Monitoring form
An updated version of the Monthly Monitoring Form is now available.
You can find this under Forms and Documents - Project Paperwork saved as Version 2 Monthly Monitoring Form.
You are required to complete this form for each month from March 2020 (even if your delivery is yet to begin) until your final 40% completion payment has been made.
If you are delivering multiple projects, please complete a Monthly Monitoring Form for EACH project.
Please complete and return by the 20th of each month to:
[email protected]
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28/02/20 Sending enrolments securely
Organisations are required to scan the LA6 team copies of fully completed enrolment forms within 2 weeks of the learner start date. This allows the team to monitor enrolments for eligibility and compliance.
In order to send your enrolments securely, please choose one of the two options below:
If your Organisation uses OUTLOOK:
Open a new email
Click Options
Click Permission
Set Permission as Encrypt-Only
Attach scanned enrolment form(s)
Send to [email protected]
If your Organisation DOES NOT USE OUTLOOK:
Email [email protected]
Title email: Enrolments to send
The team will send you an Encrypted email
Respond to this email with your scanned enrolment(s) and this will ensure security end to end.
If you have any questions please email [email protected]