The Engagement Gateway
Full Details of Engagement Gateway Activities being delivered in Merthyr Tydfil can be found [here].
Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil is helping to deliver the Engagement Gateway scheme in Merthyr Tydfil.
VAMT offer assistance, support and guidance to those organisations operating in Merthyr Tydfil who have qualified for the scheme through the Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) and are now on the Approved Suppliers List (ASL) for the Convergence areas of Wales. For more information on the Engagement Gateway approved organisations please visit the [WCVA website].
What is the Engagement Gateway?
The Engagement Gateway is a procurement scheme supported by £34 million from the European Social Fund (ESF), which replaces the Objective 1 programme. The addition of the RCE areas into the scheme now means that the Engagement Gateway operates in all 22 unitary authority areas of Wales. There is a dedicated person in each County Voluntary Council / Volunteer Centre across Wales to offer help and assistance to organisations involved in the scheme.
The Aim of the Engagement Gateway
The aim of the Engagement Gateway is to reduce economic inactivity across Wales and improve the employability of disadvantaged groups in society. Projects under the scheme will prepare people who are seen as “marginalised from the labour market” for work through developing a range of skills and experiences. The scheme, managed by WCVA, involves voluntary, private and local government organisations across Wales. There are many Engagement Gateway projects now underway in Merthyr Tydfil. Engagement Gateway projects will allow participants to develop skills and experience and ultimately help them to progress on to other sustainable activity, be it education, volunteering, or employment.
Recent changes to participant eligibility
Due to the introduction of the new Work Programme changes have been made to the eligibility of participants for Engagement Gateway projects.
Eligible participants: Economically Inactive people only
All other conditions remain the same.
Why the changes?
Because of the introduction of the new Work Programme across the UK, Engagement Gateway will be focussing on those participants not currently within its scope.
The Economically Inactive category will NOT include anybody receiving either Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA).
However it could include the following:
- People in receipt of Incapacity Benefit
- People in receipt of Income Support
- Retired people wishing to re-enter the labour market
- Young people aged 16 and 17 not in employment, education or training
- Lone parents (until the youngest child reaches 7 years old)
- People with a work-limiting health condition
- People who are employed for less than 16 hours per week
- People who are out of work but do not claim any benefits
NB. Any of the above must NOT be claiming JSA or ESA.
The rules about participants will apply to all future grant rounds, but will not affect any contracts already awarded, or in the process of being awarded before June 2011.
From 1st September 2011 participants being refered to the Work Programme are no longer eligible for ESF funded projects, for full details of The Work Programme and ESF in Wales please review this [briefing].
For further information, assistance and guidance on the Engagement Gateway and how to get involved in Merthyr Tydfil please contact Carol van den Berg, your Engagement Gateway Local Advisor for Merthyr Tydfil, either by email or telephone (01685) 353984.
