Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations

Expert advice for community and voluntary groups and projects in Bridgend County Borough

Managing community and voluntary groups isn't always easy. You're creative, enthusiastic and have a great vision. But you're probably working on a shoestring, with voluntary managers and don't have enough hours in the day. If you sometimes wish you had an expert on hand to sort things out once in a while look no further...

Go to the Sustainable Funding website for recent EU related tender opportunities.

Go to the Sell2Wales website to register and receive up to date tender notices direct to your inbox.

WCVA announces Gateway

WCVA has published details of the organisations that have successfully joined the Engagement Gateway and Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) approved supplier lists for Convergence areas.

The organisations whose pre qualification questionnaires (PQQ) were approved will now be eligible to tender for contracts.

Invitations to tender (ITT) releases for 2010 will be on a rolling schedule dependant on participant group, target area and contract level. There will be times when tenders will be open to the whole convergance area.

Please click here for the complete list of the Approved Suppliers List for the whole convergence area.

Engagement Gateway Projects

We are pleased to announce that Engagement Gateway Projects have taken off the ground within the Bridgend area - from volunteering opportunities for the over 50's to assistance in accessing transport for the disabled. For further information about these projects click here.

BAVO Working in Partnership with WCVA - The Engagement Gateway Project

What is Engagement Gateway?

The Gateway is a new scheme funded by Wales European Funding Office (WEFO) under the European Union’s Convergence programme, which is the successor to Objective 1.

The aim of the project to reduce economic inactivity in Wales and help improve the employability of disadvantaged people who are furthest from the labour market, and help them gat back into work.

Who are the people ‘furthest from the labour market’?

These are the people who may be out of touch with mainstream services, or at high risk of long term benefit dependency. These groups will include people facing specific disadvantage, such as:

Women who want to return to work
Black, Asian and minority ethnic people
People with a work limiting health condition or disability
Mental health service users
People over 50 years of age

Other target groups The Engagement Gateway can help are:

People in receipt of incapacity benefit
Lone parents with children of all ages
Young people not in employment, education or training
Economically inactive people throughout Wales

What type of outcomes are required to win a contract?

The aim of the Gateway is to help people make progress towards employment.

The Gateway will invest in organisations that provide activities to build the skills, confidence and knowledge of target groups; and which link progress to a ‘next step’ such as referrals to other projects, volunteering, training, supported employment or full employment.

While the outcomes of the contracts will be defined by WCVA, organisations that are tendering can design the activities that best suit their client group.

Which organisations can tender for the Gateway contracts?

Any organisation can tender for the Gateway contracts.

No organisation will be excluded from gaining contracts based on their geographic location. However, activities must be delivered to participants within the Convergence areas of Wales, and WCVA is seeking to maximise Welsh input within the scheme.

How much money can the Gateway invest in organisations?

Level 1 will offer contracts of up to £25,000 over a maximum two year period. Match funding, while not discouraged, is not a requirement at this level.

Level 2 will offer contracts of £25,000-£75,000 over a maximum two year period. An element of match funding is required at this level. (approximately 30-40%)

Level 3 will offer contracts of £75,000-£150,000. An element of match funding is required at this level. (approximately 50% )

Match funding may include financial contribution, in-kind donations or volunteer time.

Is there any support available in preparing a tender?

Advice is available locally through BAVO. Your Engagement Gateway Liaison Officers are Angela Howells and Nia Williams.

In order to receive information about possible tendering opportunities you need to be on the “approved supplier list” To do this organisations need to complete and submit a pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ).

The deadline for the PQQ is now closed.

Where are the tender opportunities publicised?

Organisations on WCVA’s approved supplier list will be directly invited to tender for appropriate contracts.

Invitations to tender will also appear on www.sell2wales.co.uk and www.wefo.wales.gov.uk

How long will we have to keep our records from the project for?

The earliest date for destruction of documentation is 31 December 2024, compared to the previous 2021

Engagement Gateway Local Advisors can offer advice and guidance on Gateway tenders, however this does not guarantee tender success. Neither WCVA nor CVC accept any liability for any advice given or omitted to be given. It is the responsibility of the tendering organisation to obtain independent professional advice on legal and financial matters. It is the responsibility of the tendering organisation to ensure that the tender complies with all aspects of the tender guidelines.

Gall Ymgynghorwyr Lleol y Porth Ymgysylltu gynnig cyngor a chyfarwyddyd ynghylch tendrau’r Porth Ymgysylltu, fodd bynnag, nid yw hyn yn gwarantu llwyddiant y tendr. Nid yw WCVA na CVC yn derbyn unrhyw gyfrifoldeb am unrhyw gyngor a roddwyd neu a gafodd ei hepgor. Cyfrifoldeb y mudiad sy’n tendro yw sicrhau cyngor proffesiynol annibynnol ynghylch materion cyfreithiol ac ariannol. Cyfrifoldeb y mudiad sy’n tendro yw sicrhau bod y tendr yn cydymffurfio â phob agwedd ar y canllawiau tendro.

View the FAQ section on the WCVA Website.

The Engagement Gateway is a scheme Funded by Wales Assembly Government and European Structural Funds (European Social Funds) and managed by Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) the umbrella body for the third sector in Wales.

The Gateway will be delivered by WCVA in Partnership with Bridgend Association of Voluntary Organisations and the Bridgend Volunteer Centre.

WAG Logo ESF Logo

EU Funding Information - local activities

Bridgend County Borough Council through the CYPP is taking the lead in developing a bid for 'Reaching the Heights', a project which local children and youth organisations will be familiar with. A local project board has been set up and BAVO is involved with that board. Further updates will follow.

Additionally the Bridgend Learning and Skills Network has also set up a project board to look at a bid to develop basic and broader skills to tackle economic inactivity. The sector is also represented on that Board by BAVO, although it has yet to determine direction. Further updates will be posted on the forum pages when they are available.

Expressions of Interest in Projects (EoI)

The actual application process begins with an 'Expression of Interest' (EoI), with prospective project sponsors (ie organisations that will undertake the management of the whole bid/project). It is BAVO's understanding that EOI's will also be posted on the website in due course.

Organisations are now able to submit their EoI via a 'request to submit an EOI' link available on the WEFO website [Strategic Frameworks] or click here for further information and follow the links.

The EoI stage is intended for prospective project sponsors that have already demonstrated their commitment to collaborative working with other organisations and major stakeholders, including by posting their project idea on the WEFO website. Prospective sponsors also need to consider a number of conditions, including whether they are eligible as an organisation to receive European funding and whether their proposed project meets the eligibility rules [Eligibility Guidance] and fits with a Strategic Framework [Strategic Frameworks]. Following submission of an EOI request, prospective project sponsors will be contacted directly by a WEFO Project Development Officer (PDO) who will discuss their request and help applicants to register their EoI.

Tendering and Procurement

For tendering and procurement opportunities of successful EU proposals, keep an eye on the Sell to Wales website. Watch this space for updates.