European Social Fund in England

More About Objective 3 in 2000 - 2006

Objective 3 is a non-regional Objective, available in the whole of Great Britain except Objective 1 areas. Objective 3 is funded by ESF only and has the largest ESF allocation.

Objective 3 aims to improve people's skills and employment prospects by

• tackling long-term unemployment
• helping young people and those at risk from not being able to find work
• improving training, education and counselling for lifelong learning
• encouraging entrepreneurship and adaptability in the workplace
• promoting equal opportunities and improving the role of women in the workplace

England

Objective 3 covers all of England except Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Merseyside and South Yorkshire. The programme's measures, including target groups and activities, are set out in the England Objective 3 Operational Programme.

Government Offices are responsible for delivering Objective 3 at regional level. Each region has a Regional Development Plan which sets out regional priorities within the framework of the Operational Programme..

Co-financing

Most regional Objective 3 ESF in England is available through Co-financing Organisations (CFOs), which provide 100% funding to successful applicants. CFOs are responsible for finding the required match funding so that applicants do not have to apply for this separately to other funding sources.

Jobcentre Plus and the Learning and Skills Council are CFOs in all regions. In some regions other public bodies, such as Regional Development Agencies and local authorities are also CFOs.

CFOs make ESF available through a process of open and competitive tendering. Organisations that submit a tender do not have to find their own match funding. Organisations that are successful receive 100% funding.

Details of Co-financing Organisations for your area are available from the Government Office for your region.

Alternative Bidding For activities that are not covered by a CFO a limited amount of ESF funding is available by making a bid direct to a Government Office. This is called 'Alternative Bidding'. In these cases, projects are scored, appraised and selected through competitive bidding at regional level. Organisations that bid in this way must already have secured their own match funding for 55% of total project costs before making a bid.

Global Grants - small grants to community organisations In each region, there are one or more projects run by organisations called 'intermediary bodies', which award small grants of up to £10,000 to community organisations which would not otherwise have the administrative capacity to apply for ESF. Applicants usually do not need to provide their own match funding.

These small grants must be used to help achieve the aims of the Objective 3 programme. They are designed to provide targeted support to areas or groups that are in greatest need in the labour market. The activities supported should help to move beneficiaries closer to the labour market.

To find out more about how to apply for small grants, or about how to become an intermediary body which awards small grants, contact the Government Office for your region.

Wales For information on the East Wales Objective 3 programme, contact the Welsh Assembly Government.

Scotland The whole of Scotland except the Highlands and Islands is eligible for ESF Objective 3. For further information on the Scotland Objective 3 programme, contact the Scottish Government.

Northern Ireland ESF Objective 3 is not available in Northern Ireland because it receives Objective 1 funding.

Gibraltar ESF Objective 3 is available in Gibraltar. For further information contact the Government of Gibraltar.

Applications Guide