|
|
|
Community full menu: European Unit
European Unit - European funding and Kirklees
The European Unit - Economic Development Service - December 2008
europe@kirklees.gov.uk
EQUAL
What did EQUAL achieve?
Equal was funded by the European Social Fund under the EQUAL Community Initiative Programme, the activities were
managed and developed by Common Ground, a Development Partnership formed in October 2001. The project invested
over £7.35 million, bringing together key organisations within Kirklees from the public sector, education
and training organisations, employers (especially those from small and medium sized businesses) and the voluntary
and community sector.
Common approaches to labour market interventions across Kirklees were developed to test a range of new activities
and innovations to 'harness the hidden potential' of the local workforce and address specific local problems and
issues. The project also worked alongside European partners from Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands in the first
phase and the Czech Republic, Austria and Sweden in the second phase to exchange best practice and learn from one
another in the different countries.
The project focused on helping two key groups:
- People who (for various reasons) have been excluded or are struggling to stay in the labour market
- Employers in Kirklees who may be reluctant to employ socially excluded people.
What difference did we make?
- Supported 2,000 people to access and stay in employment
- Supported 340 people to access skills development courses
- 140 people gained qualifications for units or full NVQs to Levels 1 to 3
- Over 150 businesses were given support to develop flexible working, redesign and repackage work and human
rsource practices. In addition they were engaged in a wider dialogue with local employment initiatives and
partners to encourage working together
- 98 jobs were safeguarded
- 39 new jobs were created
- Over 300 people attended drama workshops held in Kirklees designed to explore diversity issues
- The Soft Outcomes Toolkit was developed. It is a computerised measurement system which tracks the
development of an individual between the start and end of their time on an initiative, which has received
national interest and praise
- Collaboration with European partners.
Objective 2 2000-6 Structural Funds Programme
What did Objective 2 achieve?
Over the last seven years European Regional Development Funding (ERDF) and European Social Funds (ESF) have been
available to regenerate areas suffering from the decline of particular industries and services. In Yorkshire and
the Humber there was a total of £270m available from ERDF. Across Kirklees, 18 areas were eligible to apply for
funds due to their high levels of unemployment, poverty and social deprivation.
Funds were available to:
- Support business - assist and support small and medium sized enterprises, either new start-ups or existing
businesses
- Provide capital development - boost regeneration and economic growth through capital and infrastructure
development
- Regenerate communities - support economic development in communities and increase skills through training.
A total of £55.6m has been spent in Kirklees, £19.4m of which has come from Europe. The case studies
in this leaflet are just a few examples of how this funding has had a significant impact in Kirklees. Many
projects which have benefited are still ongoing; the legacy of the funding continues to bring success to these
areas.
What difference did we make?
The Objective 2 programme has had a massive impact on the district, successes include:
- Creation of 1,270 new jobs and access to employment for a further 277 residents from the most
disadvantaged communities of the district
- Assistance for 1,062 small and medium sized enterprises, with a further 75 receiving financial support
- Support for 416 community organisations/social enterprises and 108 networks
- Development of 21 hectares of derelict or contaminated land.
|
|
Common Ground - Lessons in Diversity posters (PDF 1.2Mb)
Facebook
del.icio.us
Digg
Newsvine
StumbleUpon
Reddit