50 delegates representing a range of sectors across the Wakefield District Partnership met on 24th April for a key briefing & consultation event on the future of European funding.  The current European Regional Aid programmes end in December 2006, and the Government is currently consulting with its partners on what the priorities should be for future programmes, how these should be targeted to areas of need and opportunity, and plans for the management of these important funds.

The event was held at the St Swithun’s Community Centre on the Eastmoor Estate in Wakefield, one of the new developments which has received European funding.   Since 1989 grants from Europe, have been fundamental to the economic, social and environmental regeneration of the District.   Delegates heard Mary Dowson, Wakefield MDC’s Service Director of Partnerships & Performance describe how some £60M of EU funding has helped finance over 400 projects across the District, creating and safeguarding thousands of jobs.  The projects include high profile initiatives such as the development of the award-winning Visitor Centre and Underground Gallery at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and a massive £8M for the regeneration of Wakefield Waterfront.

Celia Lord, Strategic Funding Coordinator at Wakefield MDC gave a keynote speech highlighting the proposed changes to EU funding during the next programmes (2007-13), and set the scene for the workshops in which delegates were consulted on the Government’s proposals.

As a result of this event, Wakefield District Partnership will be submitting a robust response to the Department for Trade & Industry (DTI) and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and to Yorkshire Forward, the Regional Development Agency, before the deadline on 22nd May.