Cavendish Consulting’s work on this project was fundamental to the successful replacement of funding, correctly targeted to needs of the long-term unemployed and correctly directed through Community Organisations who reach and serve these people.
Andrew Irvine,
Chair,
The ESF Peer Group
Background
Through the UK’s membership of the EU, 67 community projects across Northern Ireland received funding from the European Social Fund to reach the most vulnerable in our society: the unemployed & economically inactive; disabled people and those not in employment, education or training.
These funds were historically match-funded by the Northern Ireland Executive; but due to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, access to ESF funding was to end on 31st March 2022.
A group of 22 ESF-funding projects came together, campaigning to secure the future to these vital projects.
Strategy
We employed a public affairs plan to show elected representatives and government departments just how transformational these projects have been, and to communicate that the loss of this experience and expertise would be extremely damaging to the communities they serve.
We needed to secure cross-party political support. Ten breakfast briefings were organised to get our message across to elected representatives, demonstrating the impact ESF funded projects have had on local communities. At these briefings elected representatives were told of the financial impact these projects have had, and of the personal impact from service users who spoke first hand on the life-changing services.
Additionally, we addressed the fact that there had historically been an absence of cross-departmental working and that the NI Executive and the UK Government had yet to meet to discuss the funding of these vital services. We knew securing cross-departmental relations between NI’s DfE, DOH, DF, DfC, DOJ; and the UK Government’s DLUHC would be key to our success. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was due to replace ESF funding, but it wouldn’t be in place until March 2023 leaving a funding gap of one year for these services. Our organisation and facilitation of meetings created an effective working relationship between senior civil servants from the NI Executive & UK Government on this vital issue.
To complement all activity, the chair of the Peer Group was prepared for broadcast interviews which were secured on the BBC & UTV.
The
results.
Our We gained true cross-party political support, with the leaders of the five main parties in NI penning a joint letter to the UK Government in support of our campaign.
Coverage in the Northern Ireland press, established the Peer Group as an expert voice for the sector.
The Economy Minister announced an additional £2.6 million to ensure that projects could continue to operate until March 2023, providing a lifeline until the start of UKSPF funding.
£2.6M
Additional project funding.
2
Campaign awards won


Awarded the ‘Beyond London’ award for the PRCA PoliMonitor Public Affairs Awards for the Best Public Affairs Campaign
Awarded ‘Silver’ in the CIPR Northern Ireland PRide Award for the Best Public Affairs Campaign

