Funding for skills and employment

Department for Employment and Learning: European Unit Small Logo

A £20million package from the Department for Employment and Learning will help projects aimed at improving skills and employment prospects and addressing the needs of those disadvantaged in the labour market.

Organisations locally are encouraged to apply for support under the latest round of European Social Funding.

A spokesperson for the Department for Employment and Learning outlined more details of the package and said:

The services provided under the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity complement the Department's existing programmes, as they are targeted at the specific needs of disadvantaged groups in Northern Ireland. These projects also provide scope for community and voluntary sector organisations to make their unique contribution to assisting those needing encouragement and skills to maximise their potential.

The spokesperson went on to explain that this would be the third and final call made by the Department for applications under the Northern Ireland Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity. As under the previous two calls, applications will be invited from eligible organisations in the voluntary and community sector, universities and Further Education Colleges throughout Northern Ireland.

Following the second call, 60 projects were awarded funding totalling £22million early last year. To date, more than 100,000 participants have benefited from the projects under the first and second calls.

Highlighting the importance of the application process and the time frame for submitting proposals, the spokesperson said:

The invitation to submit applications is being made now so that organisations have plenty of time to prepare their proposals and to help ensure the selection process is complete before next April when funding from the previous round finishes.

Applications are being sought for European Social Funding under four Measures of the European Programme for Building Sustainable Prosperity in Northern Ireland. Applications are sought in respect of projects to improve skills and employability and to address the needs of those disadvantaged in the labour market.

Application forms are available in either paper or electronic format. Full details are available at www.eugrants.org.

Those without internet access should contact the Department for Employment and Learning, European Unit, Tel: 028 9025 7643 for printed versions of documents. Over the next few days the Department will place advertisements in newspapers, which contains this information.

Completed applications must be received by noon on Friday 4 November 2005.



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