Although the voluntary sector in the North East has been very successful in gaining European funding, particularly ESF, this money tends to go to a small number of large organisations.

The basic nature of European funding presents the voluntary sector with a number of significant difficulties.  The eligibility criteria are complex, the application processes confusing and the administration of the programmes bureaucratic and inflexible.  In addition the complexities and restrictions around match funding make it impossible to get some ideas off the ground and mean that some organisations are faced with even more complex arrangements for managing their funding regimes.  Another major concern for voluntary organisations around accessing European funding is the monitoring requirements which, particularly when compared to other funding regimes, are onerous.

The area of European funding that we have been most involved in is the Objective 2, Priority 4 - Target Communities package.  However, this programme has come to an end and will not be continued. 

The only other programme in the pipeline is a Community Engagement package, associated with Science City, to raise awareness and aspirations around science.  It is very early days, but the Regen Forum is working closely with the City Council to develop this programme.  NCVS members will be kept informed and involved as the work progresses.

For more information see the following page on the Newcastle Council website:

www.newcastle.gov.uk/core.nsf/a/europrocgrant?opendocument

You could also look at ESFVON's website - a voluntary organisation that specifically aims to improve access to European funding for the voluntary sector:

www.esfvon.org.uk

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