Fears for the way Government intends spending £280 million intended for society’s most disadvantaged are mounting today as the Executive Director of CSV, the UK’s largest volunteering and training charity backed calls for a re-think on spending policy. (Friday 15th December).
It comes on the same day that the Third Sector European Network (TSEN) publishes an independent report – The Price of Exclusion - which tracks how plans for spending European Social Fund (ESF) money will fall short of helping the most disadvantaged, as intended. The report says that the distribution of money is biased towards those people who are more likely to get back into work rather than those people who need it the most.
Summary of key findings:
• More than £280 million of European Social Fund money is in danger of being diverted to existing Government programmes that will find it difficult to assist those people who are at the greatest disadvantage of joining the labour market. This is contrary to one of the key principles of European funding, that it should be used to provide ‘additionality’ and not simply support existing Government programmes. (This is for new funding set to start from 2007)
• The hardest hit groups include people with disabilities – who have a low employment rate of only 50% and lone parents who have an employment rate of 56%.
• The report says that the way Government intends to spend the money will be of limited use in helping the 2.7 million people on incapacity benefit back into work and those who face multiple disadvantages. TSEN believes that existing Government programmes lasting between 6-12 weeks will not be as effective as what the Third Sector can achieve.
• The report also estimates that there are another 1 million people who slip through the net and are in danger of being ignored altogether. This includes people who cannot claim incapacity benefit because they haven’t paid enough National Insurance, for example.
Tamara Flanagan, the Chair of the Third Sector European Network says: “We want the DWP to think again about how ESF money is distributed to those people most in need. Government programmes are not always the most responsive means to help the most disadvantaged.”
Current ESF money starts to run out from December 31st. Many Third Sector organisations will be affected. Adding her support to the findings, Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of CSV, the UK’s largest volunteering and training charity, said: “Within CSV, projects helping over 1000 refugees, mental health service users and people with disabilities are now likely to close because government is using the £280m available from Europe for its own programmes aimed at less advantaged people.”
The Price of Exclusion, commissioned by the Third Sector European Network is launched on Friday 16th December 2006 at the European Parliament Building , 2 Queen Anne’s Gate, 3-5pm. Speakers include, Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, Executive Director of CSV, Richard Howett, MEP, and Giampi Alhadeff, Secretary General of the European Labour Party Group.
Click here to download: The Price of Exclusion
Further press information or to receive the report: TSEN, c/o Jason Tanner/Paul Donohoe, CSV Press Office on 020 7812 0038 / 07779 624385 / 07941 433598
Notes for Editors
• The Third Sector European Network (TSEN) is a network of specialist agencies supporting third sector projects using European funding. www.tsen.org.uk
• CSV (Community Service Volunteers) creates opportunities for people to take an active part in the life of their communities through volunteering, training and community action. Last year 227,000 people gave 5 million hours of their time as volunteers through CSV. CSV trains 12,750 people of all ages. www.csv.org.uk