European funding project management and support service

With access to up-to-date information and expertise in funding, we provide a comprehensive service to those developing projects to help identify relevant funding as well as providing a complete 'grants service'.  

Grant programmes all come with specific rules, regulations, conditions and procedures. Timescales are set for implementation, with monitoring and reporting requirements at fixed intervals. So rather than try and manage these yourselves why not contact us for a discussion on developing tailored packages that will help manage and deliver your projects from an initial idea to project closure.

Email: externalfunding@swansea.gov.uk
Phone: 01792 636992

We can help with:

• project ideas 
• expressions of interest
• project development
• eligibility rules and conditions 
• eligible and ineligible costs
• indirect cost guidance
• identifying potential funders
• completing funding applications
• grant compliance
• liaison with funding bodies
• developing funding strategies
• cross cutting themes guidance
• project and programme monitoring and evaluation
• record keeping
• state aid
• volunteer time as match funding
• information and publicity guidelines 
• European project audits
• internal project audits 
• preparing for project closure

Projects we're currently involved with

Communities for Work
The European Social Fund (ESF) funded Communities for Work project works in partnership with communities and Jobcentre Plus. The Welsh Government operates as lead body for the project with Swansea Council operating as a local delivery body. The project is focussed on reducing the number of NEETs aged 16-24 and to increase employability of the economically inactive and long term unemployed for those aged 25 and over who have complex barriers to employment. 

Cynnydd
We are a joint beneficiary of the Cynnydd regional project, part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) through the Welsh Government, led by Pembrokeshire County Council. 

Cynnydd is an operation under Specific Objective 2 of the 2014-2020 West Wales and the Valleys ESF Operational Programme. The project is targeted at those young people (11-24 year olds) who are identified as being at the very greatest risk of becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) and to reduce this risk. Specific activities and interventions are required to be delivered to these identified learners/young people. The project duration has been confirmed as 1 March 2016 to 28 February 2023.

A total of 1,300 participants have been allocated across secondary schools and pupil referral units over the project duration in Swansea. Over which time, the projects targeted outcomes are for 56 qualifications to be achieved as a result of the project, and 715 at a reduced risk of becoming NEET. Swansea Council is managing delivery in secondary schools. Gower College are managing their separate allocation of 16-24 year olds within the college.

Gower Landscape Partnership (GLP)
The partnership aims to inspire and help local people learn more about and look after Gower's special and distinctive features. The formation of a landscape partnership has been significant in uniting a wide range of partners with interests in the peninsula to develop a suite of projects such as apprenticeships in traditional heritage skills; and conservation of natural and built features, which will have a significant impact in addressing some of the challenges facing the area. GLP has been successful in securing £1.3m from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Landscape Partnership programme, and additional funding and support from the RDP, Natural Resources Wales and the National Trust.

Hafod Copperworks
We led on the development of the recent successful Heritage Enterprise funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). 

Cu@Swansea is a partnership between Swansea University and Swansea Council which aims to breathe life back into the site of the former Hafod-Morfa Copperworks. In 2012, the CU@Swansea project started a programme of physical works to reclaim the site from dereliction and enable people to visit and reconnect with the site.

Following on from the above, in June 2016 and in conjunction with Swansea University we were successful in an application for the next phase of the development at Hafod-Morfa Copperworks.

Rural Development Programme (RDP)
The programme is part of the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), funded by the European Union and Welsh Government.

In Swansea RDP delivers the community-led programme LEADER in the 8 fully eligible wards of Mawr, Llangyfelach, Pontarddulais, Penclawdd, Fairwood, Bishopston, Pennard, and Gower; and partially supported in the three service wards of Clydach, Gorseinon and Gowerton.

More information: Rural Development Programme (RDP)

Workways+
Offers training and paid work experience opportunities to long-term unemployed people to help get their lives back on track. Backed by £21 million of EU funds and funding from local authorities, the seven-year scheme will benefit people in South West Wales. 

Support will target participants residing outside of Communities First Areas who are economically inactive, long-term unemployed or have complex barriers to overcome. Workways+ will help participants take their first steps to re-engage or enter into the labour market via one-to-one mentoring, support with job-seeking and interview skills, help with writing CVs, the chance to gain new qualifications and for some participants a paid temporary job with a local employer.