The Work and Pensions select committee has published a report following its inquiry into the future of the European Social Fund. Echoing evidence provided by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, the committee calls on government to ensure the support provided through ESF funding continues following Brexit and that the planned UK Shared Prosperity Fund:
- retains a separate fund for employment support for disadvantaged groups and communities
- uses both longer-term and short-term programmes
- cuts bureaucracy for providers.
The government plans to consult on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund this autumn. Highlighting the importance of ESF for disadvantaged communities will be crucial for NCVO’s response, so if you have experience of delivering ESF programmes, they’d like to hear from you.