Yesterday One
EM supported our fourth event focussing on VCS engagement with LEPs and in
particular their future role in EU funding investment. The event was a great
opportunity to get out into Lincolnshire
and meet groups that we rarely get chance to have contact with nowadays. It was
also an opportunity to further our thinking about the opportunities and
challenges for the VCS in relation to future EU funding.
In short there
are many reasons why the opportunity is huge for the VCS:
- Discussions on the investment of EU funds have moved to a more local level than ever before – through LEPs;
- A large proportion of that investment must be focussed on promoting social inclusion and combating poverty;
- Other investments will include core VCS functions such as learning & skills, environmental protection, access to employment, ICT and local economic growth;
- Match funding is being made available to the VCS through Big Lottery Fund;
- The VCS could help drive better outcomes for LEPs in achieving the Equality & Diversity cross-cutting theme;
- LEPs are encouraged to identify and respond to social innovation;
- Community Led-Local Development is seen as a positive approach that can be taken by the LEP in achieving particular outcomes.
So with all
this positivity why are some of us struggling to engage or shape our thinking
quickly enough in order to respond? After all this is a once-every-seven-year opportunity to get it right.
Karen Parsons,
Director of Children’s Links, hit the nail on the head yesterday. As a sector
we are so used to being consulted on an almost completed strategy and
marginalised in discussions that when our help is truly needed we lack the
systems and processes and to some degree the confidence to step up.
This is a real
opportunity to demonstrate how our work directly supports growth and productivity
across our communities. There is no specified approach or toolkit that will
help just us and our ideas. The timescales are tight and the task is huge so
don’t procrastinate – get together and decide what needs to change, how and who
can deliver it. I can guarantee that the LEP will be delighted that you did.
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