Tackling social exclusion

On 31 July the Government submitted the latest National Action Plan (NAP) on social inclusion to the European Commission. But how does ESF support the Plan?

The latest National Action Plan (NAP) on social inclusion outlines the most important issues for the UK in the fight against poverty and social exclusion from 2003 to 2005. This plan will take us half way to the long-term goal, set by EU Member States in 2000, that there should be a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty, across Europe, by 2010. We all want to see more and better jobs, leading to greater social inclusion and less poverty in a way that is recognisable to people in local communities.

Tackling poverty is primarily the responsibility of UK authorities, whether central, regional or local. However, the European Union (EU) plays an important role by enabling the sharing of ideas about what does, and does not, work. NAPs support this role by facilitating practical co-ordination between the Member States– for example, by providing the building blocks towards peer review, exchanges of best practices and so on.

The EU also provides resources, including ESF, to develop employability and human resources in the labour market. The NAP includes an explanation of how ESF helps unemployed and socially excluded people develop their employability and skills. EU regulations state that ESF’s main task is to support the European Employment Strategy and NAP for Employment. But ESF also adds value to activities to help the most disadvantaged to access the labour market, so ESF provision supports both agendas by promoting employment opportunities for all.

“This plan will take us half way to the long-term goal... that there should be a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty, across Europe, by 2010”

And the EU also provides political impetus towards greater participation with both Non-Government Organisations and people with experience of poverty. It is important that NAPs give full weight to the full range of activities underway across the UK, not just the policies and programmes of Government. The ambition is that NAPs will be increasingly participative in both preparation and follow-up.

Want to know more?
A copy of the full plan can be found at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/dwp/2003/nap/index.asp, this includes detailed annexes, including one on ESF. However, for the first time, the Government has published a printed version – based on the core of the plan and excluding annexes – to raise the profile of the process and of the contribution that the EU can make. The printed version can be obtained free of charge from Welfare Reform, Freepost (HA4441), Hayes UB3 1BR (telephone 020 8897 3201).