The project has been funded for 12 months from April 2008 by the European Commission Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities DG Progress Programme.
There are nine partners to the project; four are from the East of England and five from other areas of the EU (Bulgaria, Hungary, Latvia, Malta and Spain).
- Dacorum Council for Voluntary Service Ltd (CVS)
- AFIES Foundation
- BARDA (Bulgarian Association of regional Development Agencies and Business Centre)
- EEDA (East of England Development Agency)
- EESCP (East of England Skills and Competitiveness Partnership)
- Exemplas
- FTZ (Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit)
- HBF Hungaricum Kft
- KID (Culture, Tolerance, Friendship)
The Aims of Network to Know
The project will share between partners and through dissemination a wider audience the experience of utilising European Structural Funds to address issues relating to employment and employability.
The main activities link to the general objectives of PROGRESS by improving knowledge / understanding, promoting networking / mutual learning, raising awareness of the role of Europe and build the capacity of partners to promote, support and further develop EU policies / objectives.
The key project activities are:
• A programme of study visits between partners, which will share good practice in supporting the following beneficiary areas:
- the skills base,
- employment of migrant workers,
- use of funding as a tool for rural development,
- training of specific client groups (disabilities, ethnic minorities, women, young and older people).
• The creation of “How to Guides” promoting good practice covering:
- The role of EES / NRP, influencing decisions,
- Bid writing,
- Maximise collaboration /partnerships,
- Improving skills, project management /delivery
- Building self-confidence of beneficiaries.
- Business growth and development
• The creation of a project website to disseminate project activities and tools to a wide audience