What do you need to know about your LEP and what opportunities are there for the VCS?

One East Midlands, through the ERDF Reach & Impact project in partnership with local infrastructure organisations are hosting free county workshops throughout July and August to enable stronger and productive relationships between the VCS and LEPs. 

The workshops will take place in Derby on 2 July, in partnership with Community Action Derby, Northampton on 11 July in partnership with Northampton Volunteering Centre, in Nottingham on 12 July in partnership with Nottingham CVS, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire on 1 August in partnership with Involving Lincs, and in Leicester on Thursday 8 August in partnership with Voluntary Action LeicesterShire.

The LEPs have a new strategic role for the delivery of a large proportion of the next round of EU Funds, including ERDF and ESF, from 2014-2020. LEPs will be responsible for ensuring local growth outcomes are delivered by working with a range of local partners, including the VCS.

In maximising the VCS role in enabling economic inclusion, it has become even more important for the VCS to demonstrate their social and economic contribution and the key role they can play under the EU structural funds programme. 

There will be an opportunity to hear from the representatives of the LEP from your area, who will be discussing the LEPs future role, priorities, engagement strategies and opportunities for the sector. Colleagues from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and the Department for Business Innovations & Skills (BIS) will also be present to contribute to the day.

The workshops will enable VCS organisations to:

  • Understand the future role of LEPs in EU Structural Funding
  • Improve/increase the LEPs understanding of the positive social and economic contribution the VCS can make under the EU Structural Funds programme
  • Clearly indicate to LEP’s what the VCS contribution could look like under the new EU Structural fund programme and why LEP strategic plans should be inclusive of the VCS as both strategic and delivery partners
  • Build capacity, skills and knowledge for effective management of EU funded projects

The audience for the workshops are VCS organisations, social enterprises, generic and specialist support providers to the VCS. The workshops will be appropriate for senior managers, trustees, management committee members, and policy leads.

To book on to the workshops click on the appropriate link below and then on the Register Now button.

Alongside the workshops, One East Midlands has published a policy briefing on LEPs and their role in the 2014-20 EU Funding Programme. To download it click here.