D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership: Update bulletin for the VCS - 2

Welcome to the second update bulletin from One East Midlands on the work of D2N2 LEP and opportunities for relationships with the VCS.

If you not fully aware of the role of LEPs then more information can be found in our policy page at www.oneeastmidlands.org.uk/leps including links to individual LEP websites; including D2N2.

Development of the D2N2 Social Inclusion Framework

In our May bulletin we announced that D2N2 had agreed to invest some resource into the development of a social inclusion framework for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and in clarifying the delivery offer from the third sector across LEP programmes and activity.

Since that time an advisory group has been meeting, Chaired by Rob Crowder, VCS Board member of D2N2. With support from Richmond Baxter and New Ground Consultancies and with the input of local authorities and a wide range of interested organisations a draft framework has now been produced and submitted to both D2N2 and Big Lottery Fund. 

In summary the framework identifies five thematic priorities to be addressed through the Social Inclusion investment strand of ESF. These priorities are:

• Older long term unemployed people who are now experiencing additional barriers to work;
• Younger people including ‘hidden NEETs’, with an emphasis on helping young people navigate current, complex provision;
• Women ‘returners’ embracing a range of women facing different aspects of social exclusion and including those that have never worked;
• People (individuals) with multiple and complex needs; and
• The financially excluded, both in and out of work.

In addition to thematic priorities, a number of cross-cutting challenges and opportunities were also highlighted including:

• Health and wellbeing;
• Rural inclusion;
• Asset Based Community Development and local infrastructure;
• Involving and supporting business to stimulate employment opportunities for excluded groups; and
• Softer outcomes.

To read the full document please click here.

Please note that at this stage this document is an advisory tool from One East Midlands to the D2N2 Board and Big Lottery Fund. We are hopeful that the recommendations contained in the report will be accepted by the D2N2 Board at their September meeting and then become part of the ESIF implementation plan.

Big Lottery Fund developments

Big Lottery fund are making rapid progress on developing a Memorandum of Understanding with LEPs to help shape the local relationships. This process is well underway in D2N2, with the MoU being developed to reflect the input that D2N2 would like to have in endorsing BLF investments locally.

BLF have also announced the launch of Programme Development Funding.  This funding is to support LEP areas to begin to build partnership in each LEP area with the knowledge and capacity to consider applying for ESF/BLF funding once the programme goes live (probably Jan 2015).

One East Midlands have expressed an interest in delivering this work in the D2N2 area.

Next Steps

Next steps for this work include the creation of a group to support the development of the EU cross cutting theme for equality and anti discrimination, advice on use of Community Led Local Development and further guidance on commissioning priorities for inclusion work; protecting the role of  local suppliers with delivery expertise.

Please get in touch if you are interested in being more closely involved with any of these strands of work.

We will be keeping you regularly informed of progress so please keep an eye on our website and the D2N2 page for updates between bulletins.

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