3-SET European funding advice

3-SET – the third sector European team – supports third sector organisations seeking to benefit from European funding with information, advice, resources and training.

The 3-SET team is led by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) and part of a wider Spatial European Team (SET) network that is providing a joined-up service to maximise the benefit of European Structural Funds across all sectors in Wales.

It can offer advice and support in tendering and procurement, risk management and quality assurance and approaches to sustainable funding.

Who can 3-SET help?

• Third sector organisations that are developing national and regional European funded projects
• Any third sector organisation wanting to learn more about European funding
• Public sector project sponsors wishing to engage third sector organisations in partnership arrangements and project delivery

What training courses are available?

• How to tender
• Risk management and quality assurance
• Project management for third sector staff involved in the delivery of European funded projects

3-SET training courses are free to attend for staff and volunteers of third sector organisations that can demonstrate they are involved in the development and/or delivery of European funded projects in Wales.

Information and resources on European funding

• Tender opportunities for EU funding projects
• Regional events to give the latest information about European funding
• WCVA’s monthly Funding News bulletin provides information about current European funding opportunities and calls for proposals. To subscribe, contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 or help@wcva.org.uk.
• Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) - the single largest online source of information for the third sector in Wales
• The Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) is part of the Welsh Assembly Government and manages the delivery of the EU Structural Funds programmes in Wales
• Spatial European Teams – contact details on the Welsh European Funding Office website
• WCVA information sheets – K series – guidance notes on European Funding
• Europe Direct in Wales – the European Commission’s information service in Wales
• Annual third sector funding conference to promote a sustainable funding approach – contact the WCVA Helpdesk for information on 0800 2888 329 or help@wcva.org.uk

For enquiries about European Funding, please contact in the first instance Judith Stone, WCVA European Brokerage & Partnerships Co-ordinator on 029 2043 1744.

3-SET’s top tips for applying for European funding

Under the new programmes, organisations can benefit from European funding not only through managing projects or as beneficiaries of projects, but also by tendering to deliver their services. Here are our top tips for applying for European funding:

• Contact WCVA to join the European funding mailing list
• Look at the WEFO website for guidance on how to apply for European Funding
• Understand how your project ‘fits’ with the relevant strategic frameworks, which describe the activities that will best deliver the European funding programme priorities
• Check the project ideas section (PIFs) of the WEFO website and discuss your project proposals with other organisations, stakeholders, partners and match-funders who may have an interest in them
• Speak to your local SET Officer about project activity in your area, and the 3-SET EU Co-ordinator about national and regional project activity, and guidance on how to apply for funding
• Speak to your local county voluntary council (CVC) for information on local projects and networks
• If you have any queries on applying for European funding, including how to register on WEFO Online, contact the WEFO Helpline on 0845 010 3355
• If you think your organisation might be better placed to deliver services of projects rather than manage a project, register on Sell2Wales to be alerted to live tender opportunities
• Contact the WCVA Helpdesk on 0800 2888 329 to subscribe for WCVA’s Funding News e-bulletin
• Check the Sustainable Funding Cymru website for the latest news, live tender opportunities, dates for training courses and events

Contact 3-SET – have your say!
We would like to hear from you with any questions, concerns or comments regarding the European funding programmes in Wales! WCVA represents the third sector on a variety of working groups and our contributions are informed by the feedback we receive from groups at events and through contact with projects. Please contact us directly with any issues you’d like us to raise. Unfortunately we are not able to raise issues in relation to specific projects through these channels.