ADD364 GLA ESF Youth Programme - Learning Difficulties

1.1 In February 2012, the Mayor, under cover of MD 948, approved the allocation of £10m funding for the GLA’s European Social Fund (ESF) Co-Financing Plan for the ESF 2011-2013 programme, (£5m GLA funding, matched by an equivalent sum of ESF on a 50/50 basis); and delegated authority to the Executive Director, Communities and Intelligence (C&I), to approve the allocation of GLA ESF.

1.2 The Executive Director of Communities and Intelligence authorised, under cover of DD 875, on 10 August 2012 the allocation of funding to eight projects, Excluded from School theme (EFS) 1 and 2, Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities theme (LDD) 1, 2 and 3, and Young Offenders theme (YO) 1, 2 and 3).

1.3 The Executive Director of Communities and Intelligence authorised, under cover of DD 1395, on the 03 September 2015 approved the extension of the final date from the 31August to 18 September 2015 for all projects within the GLA/ESF Youth Programme, including LDD, this ADD requests a further extension for the LDD projects to allow for additional Sustained Outcomes to be reported and claimed up until the 30 September 2015.

2.1 The objectives of the GLA ESF Youth Programme remain as proposed in the Co-Financing Plan agreed in MD 948; to assist young people with barriers (EFS, LDD and YO) to progress into sustained Employment, Education and/or Training (EET).

2.2 The objective of the amendments to Grant Agreements is to maximise the outcomes that can be achieved and reported within the confines of the current grant eligibility and evidence guidelines, and within the current budget allocation, therefore increasing the potential number of participants supported by the programme, to increase the potential number of outcomes for participants, and to increase the volume of outcomes that the GLA can report to Department for Work and Pensions under the GLA’s Co-Financing Beneficiary Agreement, which is the agreement with The Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that allows the GLA to deliver co-funded activities as part of the England and Gibraltar European Social Fund (ESF) Convergence, Competitiveness and Employment Programme 2007-2013.

2.3 The extension of the final date from the 31August to 30 September 2015 for the LDD projects will allow for an additional15 (approx.) Sustained Outcomes to be reported and claimed for a total value not exceeding £25,000 which is already part of the approved funding agreements with the grantee. This will be managed within the current budget allocations as originally approved by MD948 for the ESF Youth Programme and subsequently reduced and reported via the Investment Programme Board.

3.1 The proportional targets agreed with project Delivery Partners in the original agreements remain unaltered, and projects are required to report against equality characteristics for disability, gender and ethnicity. The grant agreement requires that Delivery Partners must comply with all applicable existing and future equal opportunities laws, regulations and guidance, and GLA guidance in relation to race, nationality, ethnicity, disability, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion or belief.

Key risks and issues

4.1 The delivery risks remain as they are in the current programme in that targets will continue to be challenging due to the nature of the target groups. The proposed amendments seek to enhance outcome achievement, and do not adversely affect current arrangements; therefore no additional risks or issues have been created.

Links to Mayoral strategies and priorities

4.2 The GLA ESF Youth Programme projects support the Mayors strategy regarding young people, and helping them to achieve their potential.

Impact assessments and consultations

4.3 The planned impact is no more than an enhanced opportunity for Delivery Partners to achieve the outcomes currently that the currently committed with GLA ESF Grant Agreement. Consultation to confirm acceptability of the proposals has taken place with the GLA budget holder, The Assistant Director of Health and Communities.

5.1 This proposal does not require any changes to the expenditure of individual projects but to vary funding agreements to allow time for the maximum number of sustained outcomes / achievements as possible. All budget variations will be managed within the current budget allocations as originally approved by MD948 for the ESF Youth Programme and subsequently reduced and reported via the Investment Programme Board.