Lifelong Learning: Grundtvig

Overview

The Grundtvig programme offers many different opportunities for adult education organisations to get involved in European working. You could:

• attend a European training course;
• organise work shadowing in another country;
• participate in a European partnership to share expertise and experiences;
• attend a special event to meet new European partners;
• have a meeting with your partners to write your application.

This fund has two key objectives:

• To respond to the educational challenge of an ageing population in Europe
• To help adults to find pathways to improving their knowledge and competences.

Who can apply?

• Organisation involved in adult education
• Those involved with people aged 16-24 not in initial education and adults who are over 25
• The emphasis is on working with vulnerable social groups.

What does the funding cover?

The fund is very flexible with lots of project opportunities. It largely covers project management costs, language/cultural preparation, flights, accompanying staff, accommodation, subsistence and local travel. There is additional funding if learners have special needs.

There are three programmes:

• Mobility - Funding for training courses and job shadowing, plus opportunities to meet new partners from across Europe.
• Small Scale Projects - Partnership projects.
• Large Scale Projects - Projects to develop new materials and support European networks in adult education.

MOBILITY

The Mobility category covers four types of Grundtvig action:

• Assistantships
• In-Service Training, Visits & Exchanges
• Learner Workshops
• Preparatory Visits

Assistantships
Grundtvig Assistantships funding is open to anyone working in adult education in the Voluntary and Community Sector. Grants are available to go on a work placement to another adult education organisation in Europe, where you will spend 3 - 10 weeks working as a 'Grundtvig Assistant'. You can also offer to host a Grundtvig Assistant to work in your organisation too.

In-Service Training, Visits & Exchanges
This part of the Grundtvig programme provides an opportunity for staff working with adult learners to improve their practical skills and to gain a broader understanding of lifelong learning across Europe. Grants are available to work shadow (up to 3 months) or attend a conference or seminar in European country.

Learner Workshops
UK organisations involved in adult education can host workshops for 10-20 learners from across Europe on a variety of topics. UK learners can also participate in the workshops taking place in other countries.

Preparatory Visits
The Preparatory Visits action is intended to help organisations find new European partners or meet existing partners to discuss their future Grundtvig applications. You can apply for a grant to support up to 5 days activity in another participating country

SMALL SCALE PROJECTS

Partnership Projects
Grundtvig Partnerships offer you the opportunity to work with other European organisations and co-operate on a particular theme related to adult education. Partnerships enable you to involve both staff and learners in a European project.

Senior Volunteering Projects
Senior Volunteering projects funding will help you build a lasting collaboration with another European organisation around a specific theme or activity or target group, through the exchange of volunteers.

You can send senior adult learners (aged 50+) to spend 3-8 weeks as volunteers at your partner's organisation in another country. You will also host the volunteers they send.

The volunteers can be involved in any non-profit making activities, so long as they provide good learning opportunities. These may be formal, non-formal or (most usually) informal activities.

How to Apply

Step 1. Understand the Grundtvig programme objectives

Although you can apply directly to Ecorys for most UK projects, you need to be aware that the programme is run by the European Commission as part of the Lifelong Learning Programme. Each year they set out the LLP's aims, objectives and rules for applicants in the 'Call for Proposals' documents. It will help your funding application if you show you have considered these. As these can be quite complicated documents, so please find selected the most relevant parts for you:

• Strategic Priorities for the LLP in 2012 - Read the Grundtvig section to find out the priority themes for Grundtvig projects and to help you place your ideas in a European context.
• LLP Guide 2012: Part I 'General Provisions' - Read this if you want to get an overview of the LLP, who does what and administrative and financial rules.
• LLP Guide 2012: Part II 'Sub-programmes & Actions' - Read the Grundtvig section, which details the Grundtvig programme aims, who can participate and the types of activity funded.
• LLP Guide 2012: Part IIb - 'Explanations by Action' - Go to the page for the Grundtvig funding area (known as 'action') you are interested in, i.e. Preparatory Visits, Partnerships, In-Service Training etc.

Step 2. Read the relevant National Priorities

National Priorities are rules which set out who can apply for funding under the Grundtvig programme and which list any priority target groups for funding. The Grundtvig UK National Priorities document covers all funding areas of the programme administered by Ecorys. You should read this document before beginning your application to ensure that your organisation is eligible to apply, and to find out if you can receive additional points for your application during the assessment process.

Log onto the website and join the Mailing List. You can call the Helpline on or send an email.