European Funding

The European & External Funding Team provide a range of support and guidance to all projects funded in the local area through the Convergence Programme 2007-2013. Acting as Specialist European Teams (SETS), The European & External Funding Team act as a point of contact liaising between projects receiving funding and the Welsh European Funding Office to resolve issues and answer queries.

In addition, the team is also responsible for organising training events and information sessions to all sectors within the County Borough. Annual funding fairs take place around September and a programme of on-going training is in place, covering areas such as project management, managing EU audits and project closure.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council - European & External Funding Team

The role of the European & External Funding Team is to assist in identifying and monitoring all external funding activity within Merthyr Tydfil County Borough. In order to achieve this objective the following elements are essential to the teams’ activities:

Act as the Outreach SET for Merthyr Tydfil
To be involved in the development of and disseminate information regarding European funded projects including the Rural Development Plan
To assist local authority departments and Third Sector organisations in the development of external funding
To provide training for all aspects of externally funded management and delivery
To disseminate accurate and up-to-date information regarding external funding across the County Borough including Funding Fairs, Newsletters and the European and External Funding Website
To promote all external funding opportunities
To develop and maintain relationships with grant funding bodies, external stakeholders and organisations based in and around the County Borough
To disseminate Third Sector grants through the Merthyr Tydfil Development Fund and Service Level Agreements

The SET Project is due to close, however support and guidance is available to any projects in receipt of Convergence Funding until the end of September 2015. Please refer to the WEFO website links available for further information on the 2007-2013 and 2014-2020 European Programmes.

2014-2020 Programmes

The West Wales and the Valleys region, which covers 15 local authority areas, has been awarded the highest level of support from the European Union for the Structural Funds programming round 2014–2020.

The West Wales and the Valleys programmes comprise funding from two separate European Structural Funds: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF).

ERDF funds will help support the region’s continued transformation into a sustainable and competitive economy by investing in research and innovation, SME competitiveness, renewable energy and energy efficiency, connectivity and urban development. The ESF will be used to tackle poverty through sustainable employment, increase skills and tackle youth unemployment

Any organization or individual interested in this programme should contact WEFO.

Specialist European Teams (SETs)

SETs provide free support, information and advice to anyone in Wales seeking to benefit from the European Structural Funds.

Who can the SETs help?

Public, private or third sector organisations and individuals wishing to access European funding.

Organisations or businesses that are developing or managing European projects funded through the Convergence or Regional Competitiveness and Employment programmes.

Projects wishing to engage with potential delivery partners or organisations at a local or regional level.

How can the SETs help?

We can:

help you to develop your projects
put you in touch with, and assist in discussions about your project proposals with other organisations, stakeholders, potential partners and match-funding organisations who could have an interest in them or similar project ideas
help you understand relevant strategies, action plans and guidelines
help you understand how your project idea ‘fits’ with the relevant priorities and strategic frameworks
keep you up-to-date with other programmes, projects or funding opportunities
help you through the procurement process to deliver EU projects
keep you informed of opportunities to tender for delivery work for other EU projects
provide training and awareness raising sessions to promote collaboration and sharing of good practice

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