London Pride - 30 million pounds of European Social Funding (ESF) for Londoners through the Launch of the LSC Pan London Programme

The Learning and Skills Council is delighted to announce the launch of the Pan London European Social Funding (ESF) Co-Financing Programme, bringing almost 30 million pounds of additional funding to people and businesses in London.

The ESF funding aims to:

  • Help unemployed and inactive people enter work
  • Provide opportunities for people at a disadvantage in the labour market
  • Promote lifelong learning
  • Develop the skills of employed people
  • Improve women's participation in the labour market

An event being held on the 10th May at Regent's College Conference Centre, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4NS (from 2.30 until 5.00 p.m) will launch the programme's tendering process. A series of seminars in June will provide further information to prospective applicants.

The agenda for the launch includes Claude Moraes MEP, Member of the European Parliament for London, who will be speaking on the strategic importance of ESF to London and the UK economy, he comments:

"This funding is available for projects in London because the EU wants to tackle London's long-term unemployment head on. No Londoner of whatever age or background should feel consigned to the scrap heap, this money will provide new opportunities for people to get the skills and training they need to find work."

All organisations interested in bidding for ESF funding through this exciting new programme are invited to attend this event, which will seek to advise interested organisations on the important points of the programme as well as providing an excellent opportunity to seek out potential working partnerships.

Jacqui Henderson, CBE, Regional Director, London, Executive Director, London Central LSC says

"London is a unique and diverse city and we need to ensure that we maximise the benefits that this brings, by ensuring that every one, regardless of their social background has the opportunity to work. In London, we still have too many people who have few or no qualifications, and are not yet employed. This injection of European Social Funding is seeking to address this situation by helping us reach out to individuals and provide them with the opportunity to fulfil their ambitions in the labour market".

ESF's main purpose is to support the annual UK Employment Action Plan, which sets out how UK policies and initiatives take account of the Employment Guidelines established within the European Employment Strategy. ESF is channelled through three Structural Fund Objectives and the EQUAL Community Initiative.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is responsible for planning and funding education and training for over 16-year-olds in England (except for higher education). The Pan London Project crosses the following LSCs, London North, London East, London South, London West and London Central.

A project must be run by a legally constituted organisation, not sole traders or individuals. The LSC and its co-ordinating organisation respectfully requests that this funding is for large strategic bids.

The current programmes run from 2000 to 2006. ESF will provide about 4.5 billion pounds in Great Britain (3.5 billion pounds in England) in this period. From January 2000 to September 2003, ESF helped 2,557,920 people in England. Of these, 289,488 found work after leaving the programme and 356,852 gained a qualification.

Further information relating to the European Social Fund can be found at www.esf.gov.uk

Useful websites

Association of London Government
www.alg.gov.uK

London Development Agency
www.lda.gov.uk

London Central Learning and Skills Council
www.londoncentrallsc.gov.uk

London Voluntary Sector Training Consortium
www.lvstc.org

European Social Fund
www.esf.gov.uk

Government Office for London (GOL)
www.gos.gov.uk/gol/

back to top