Date: 20/12/07

Organisation Name: Visit Wales, Welsh Assembly Government Project Description: Tourism was highlighted as one of the key sectors of the Welsh economy in Wales a Vibrant Economy (WAVE). This Tourism SME Investment project would provide investment linked to productivity and competitiveness improvements in Tourism SMEs.

The project will assist the growth, productivity and expansion of tourism businesses in Wales by improving access to business finance through a discretionary but focused grant support package .

The project would comprise a Tourism investment grant (operated as part of the Invest Wales Single Investment Fund). Specialist productivity/profitability diagnostic tools linked to the grant (emphasising the policy shift to an investment culture) would also be operated in accordance with DE&T’s new Flexible Business Solution. The tourism investment grant is also underpinned by a Visit Wales tourism investment strategy which itself, recognises the regionally distinct priorities of the Wales Spatial Plan.

Email Address: tim.beddoe@wales.gsi.gov.uk,

Geographical Area of Operation: Convergence

Organisation Core Business: Supporting the development of tourism and marketing of Wales as a tourism destination.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Visit Wales /Invest Wales (WAG) Government will deliver this investment initiative in accordance with WAG Flexible Business Solutions and Single Investment Fund procedures.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Tourism SMEs, employees and managers within assisted businesses

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All spatial plan areas in Convergence Programme. Additional funds will be sought from the Competiveness Programme

What might the outputs(activity measures): Enterprises financially assisted - 280

What might be the results of the project: Visit Wales undertakes in-depth monitoring and evaluation of the outputs, results and impacts of its investment activities. From its experience in this field the following results are anticipated: Gross jobs created – 2,800, Enterprises created – 56, Profit benefit – £7m p.a., Enterprises adopting or improving Environmental Management Systems – 50%, Investment Induced - £65m.

What would its impact be: What would its impact be: Jobs created – 1120, Net enterprises created – 22, Increase in turnover - £49m, Increase in company-level GVA – £30 Roughly what might be the scale of the project: Estimated Cost: £29m public sector investment plus a further £65m private sector match funding/leverage.

Estimated Cost: £29m

Where might the match funding come from: WAG (Invest Wales) plus private sector match funding.

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Date 18/12/07

Organisation Name: Vulnerable and Intimidated Enhanced Witness Service

Project Description: PROVIDE ENHANCED TRAINING TO VOLUNTEERS WHO WILL FORWARD PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO ALL VICTIMS AND WITNESSES (UNDER THE YOUTH JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT 1999) THAT ARE REQUIRED BY EITHER THE CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE OR DEFENCE SERVICES TO GIVE EVIDENCE WITHIN A CRIMINAL COURT IN NORTH WALES. THIS SUPPORT SHALL BE DELIVERED IN THE COMFORT OF THEIR OWN HOMES OR WITHIN CONVIENIENT SURROUNDINGS. THIS SUPPORT WOULD INCLUDE INFORMATION REGARDING COURT PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS AND SPECIAL MEASURES IF NECESSARY AS WELL AS MEETING THE NEEDS OF THIE INDIVIDUAL. BY LINKING STATUTORY AGENCIES AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS WE WILL PROVIDE A MORE ACCESSIBLE SUPPORT SERVICE TO ALL VICTIMS AND WITNESSES EFFECTED BY CRIME AS WELL AS EMPOWERING THE VICTIMS/WITNESSES TO PROVIDE BEST EVIDENCE.

Email Address: viwmanager@northwalesvictimsupport.org

Geographical Area of Operation: Area of North Wales

Organisation Core Business: Victim Support

Who will be involved in delivering the project: ONE MANAGER, ONE ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT AND VOLUNTEERS ACROSS NORTH WALES

Who will be the end beneficiaries: ALL VICTIMS/WITNESSES REQUIRED TO ATTEND COURT COULD ACCESS THE SERVICE. WE WOULD AID: HER MAJESTY'S COURT SERIVCE, THE WITNESS SERVICE, WITNESS CARE UNIT, NORTH WALES POLICE, CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE, DEFENCE SERVICES, INDEPENDENT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ADVOCATES AND YOUTH OFFENDING TEAMS. THIS SPEEDS UP THE COURT PROCESS AND PROVIDES A HIGHER QUALITY OF WITNESS. WE TARGET ALL AGES HOWEVER APPROXIMATELY 90% OF OUR REFERRALS ARE BELOW 25 YEARS OLD.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: AREA OF NORTH WALES

What might the outputs(activity measures): AT PRESENT, ALL WITNESSES REQUIRED ON BEHALF OF THE CPS ARE PASSED TO THE WITNESS CARE UNITS WHO WARN THE WITNESSES TO ATTEND COURT.
WE THEN RECEIVE THE REFERRALS FROM THE WCU AS PER THE VICTIM/WITNESS ELIGABILITY FOR THE SERVICE. WE THEN CONTACT ALL VICTIMS/WITNESSES TO OFFER OUR PRACTICAL SUPPORT. UPON RECEIVING THEIR CONCENT, WE ALLOCATE THE VICTIM/WITNESS TO A VOLUNTEER, WHO CONTACTS THE VICTIM/WITNESS TO ARRANGE A HOME VISIT AT A CONVINIENT DATE BEFORE THE TRIAL. PRACTICAL SUPPORT IS THEN DELIVERED AND A RAPPORT IS BUILT UP AS WELL AS EMPOWERING THE WITNESS. WE ALSO PROVIDE SUPPORT WITHIN THE COURT ENVIRONMENT, WITH OUR SISTER AGENCY: THE WITNESS SERVICE (A COURT BASED SERVICE IN ALL COURTS IN NORTH WALES)

What might be the results of the project: A SPEEDIER CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AS WELL AS IMPROVING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND MAKING THEM AWARE THAT THE SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE AT THIS MISTIFIED TIME.

What would its impact be: AS PER THE YOUTH JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ACT 1999, WE WOULD PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO ALL VICTIMS/WITNESSES OF THE AGE OF 17 OR UNDER, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES, SEXUAL VIOLENCE CASES, MENTAL HEALTH CASES, LEARNING DIFFICULY CASES, RACE HATE CASES AND VULNERABLE AND INTIMIDATED CASES. THE MAJORITY OF THESE VICTIMS/WITNESS HAVE NEVER BEEN TO COURT IN THE PAST AND FIND THE EXPERIENCE VERY TRAUMATIC AND INDEED STRESSFUL. WE IDENTIFY THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND HIGHLIGHT ANY SPECIAL MEASURES THAT MAY BE REQUIRED WHEN GIVING EVIDENCE TO ENSURE THE EXPERIENCE IS AS COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: COVER ALL COURTS WITHIN NORTH WALES AS WELL AS ALL VICTIMS/WITNESSES

Estimated Cost: £70,000 PER ANNUM

Where might the match funding come from: THE HOME OFFICE AND OTHER FUNDING APPLICATIONS

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Date: 07/12/07

Organisation Name: Wales Council for Voluntary Action (“WCVA”) in partnership with Development Trusts Association Wales (“DTAW”) and Wales Co-operative Centre (“WCC”)

Project Description: This project would build upon the successes of the current CIF by investing in:

•community enterprises and social enterprises seeking to develop their sustainability which are unable to access finance from other sources •investing in community based projects which require a high risk, venture capital approach to achieve their aims

The project will provide investment mainly through loans and development grants to emerging and established social enterprises, community enterprises, volunteer groups and charities. It is envisaged that financial support will be given primarily to those organisations that have difficulty accessing more traditional finance options, probably through a lack of financial track record, perceived lack of business acumen, lack of asset-based security and other collateral or a combination of these issues. Based upon the current CIF model, which is restricted to operating in Communities 1st Objective 1 areas, this new project would seek to expand into wider geographic areas, certainly across Convergence areas and, subject to the availability of other funding, possibly into non-Convergence areas in Wales.

Based upon the current CIF model, loans on flexible terms will be provided to assist these organisations in developing sustainable trading activities, service level agreements or other sources of non-grant dependent revenues. Apart from development of trading, or quasi-trading activities, the project would promote asset development within organisations to (1) improve facilities offered by borrowers and (2) allow them the opportunity to secure their asset base perhaps through the purchase of property. This latter aim has the dual effect of helping to develop balance sheet value and enhancing future prospects of accessing conventional commercial finance. Flexible terms would be structured around financial need, such as reduced interest rates, interest and capital repayment free periods whilst trading capacity is developed and so on.

This model would also allow for investments to be made in a manner seeking as far as possible to replicate the venture capital model of equity or mezzanine investment in private sector SMEs through non-interest bearing financial instruments linked to longer-term exit strategies with a share of surpluses where appropriate.

Smaller grants (normally up to £20,000) would be available for development
purposes:

(1) to allow organisations to prepare to take on loan finance, typically through business planning, feasibility studies, marketing research and so on

(2) to help organisations that have taken a loan to improve their capacity to manage a loan facility, typically perhaps by funding installation of recognised accounting software and training

This combination of development grants, “equity-style” investments and highly flexible loan interest and repayment terms differentiates this project proposal from other third sector lenders, such as Finance Wales’
Community Loan Fund, Charity Bank and Co-operative & Community Finance.
Indeed, we would envisage this project would fit with these lenders and work in collaboration with them from time to time to provide gap funding in higher risk situations, as has already happened with a number of transactions through the existing CIF project.

Currently in CIF, the ratio of grant awards stands at 8% of funds committed against 92% loans. We would expect this project to reflect this level of mixed funding. By offering grants for this type of development, the project would be encouraging borrowers to seek ways to improve their business operations within their enterprises.

The project would seek to provide this type of business development by mixed and appropriate use of general business support agencies, third sector support specialists and private sector professional firms, such as accountants, corporate finance specialists, lawyers and so on. CIF has found this approach very successful in providing a complete range of support options.

The current fund operates through a Panel of representatives, experts in their respective fields, from the business and finance sectors across to the third sector. We would expect a new project to continue this principle as it has proved to be invaluable in identifying key areas for assisting applicants and developing CIF services.

An independent evaluation of the current CIF is being commissioned and the resulting report will inform the development of any subsequent funding bid arising from this project idea proposal.

Email Address: mwhite@wcva.org.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: All Wales

Organisation Core Business: WCVA represents and campaigns for voluntary organisations, volunteers and communities in Wales. WCVA manages (often in partnership with other bodies) a number of third sector projects and funding schemes including the Communities Investment Fund (“CIF”), a loan fund administered on behalf of the Communities First Support Network (“CFSN”) in partnership with DTAW and WCC.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: At this stage, the project proposals are being sponsored by a partnership of WCVA, DTAW and WCC. Operational delivery would continue through WCVA which has developed the infrastructure for the management of a fund of this nature over the last 2 years with CIF. The operational platform has been established with investment in staff with appropriate experience and skill levels as well as suitable software and internal governance. DTAW bring their experience of working with communities to develop their potential and WCC brings expertise in providing business support to third sector organisations. However, this established partnership would not rule out working with other partners where additional benefits could be seen to accrue from such an expansion.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Emerging and established social enterprises, community enterprises, volunteer groups and charities that have difficulty accessing more traditional finance options. Organisations eligible for assistance would range across (1) volunteer groups or community enterprises seeking to expand their services and operations by developing trading, or quasi-trading, activities (2) new start social enterprises lacking access to significant grants (3) multi-project community development trusts, or similar bodies seeking to develop social enterprises within their umbrella organisations (4) established social and community enterprises seeking to develop their trading activities (5) co-operative organisations. We envisage the project would target these groups thematically and spacially through a range of priority focuses within the fund, including but not necessarily restricted to Communities 1st/Communities Next areas, finance schemes focused on supporting ethnic minority projects and community-based asset development through development trusts.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Convergence areas and, subject to availability of other funding, possibly into non-Convergence areas in Wales.

What might be the results of the project: Enterprises created - Enterprises developed and expanded - Enterprises protected - Jobs created and safeguarded - More volunteering - Social and community returns on investment - Increased adoption of environmentally friendly practices - Increased adoption of equality strategies

What might be the results of the project: Increased economic activity - Improved delivery of public services - Community regeneration and development - Improved business skills within the third sector in Wales - Greater sustainability within the third sector - Social and economic inclusion of those currently excluded

What would its impact be: Increased GDP in Wales - Increased employment - Improved communities

Roughly what might be the scale of the project 200 organisations supported financially and through business support over 3 years with a further 100 organisations benefiting from advice and guidance.

Estimated Cost: £7.5 million

Where might the match funding come from: Big Lottery - Unclaimed Assets - Loan repayments and interest

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Date: 01/12/07

Organisation Name: Finance Wales Plc

Project Description: Risk Capital Funds for Wales – an investment fund to address market failure in the supply of risk capital to SMEs in Wales

Email Address: nick.moon@financewales.co.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Wales (including convergence and competitiveness areas)

Organisation Core Business: Fund management and investment

Who will be involved in delivering the project: Financial intermediaries and business angels

Who will be the end beneficiaries: SMEs in Wales

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All Wales

What might the outputs(activity measures): Enterprises, social enterprises, and individuals financially supported

What might be the results of the project: Gross jobs created, enterprises created, profit benefit and investment induced and the creation of a sustainable/evergreen investment fund for Wales

What would its impact be: Improved access to capital for SMEs in Wales and greater levels of business growth

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: Investments may range from loans of £5,000 to venture capital deals of up to £2,500,000. The number of recipients will vary in respect to the size of investment, with a greater volume expected in the smaller end of the market

Estimated Cost: Total fund size of circa £130,000,000 over 5 years

Where might the match funding come from: It is envisaged that this half of this funding will be raised from the private sector and half from public sources

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Date: 15/11/07

Organisation Name: Keep Wales Tidy (lead)

Project Description: Project Summary

This partnership proposal aims empower local communities to take responsibility for their local environment. This will be delivered by establishing and developing community groups who will work towards meeting the needs of their local community by adopting areas of their local environment and undertaking practical improvement projects.
The partnership consists of Keep Wales Tidy, BTCV Cymru and Groundwork Wales and each partner will be responsible for a particular element of the project.
Keep Wales Tidy shall mobilise communities to identify and respond to eyesores and will be responsible for overseeing clean up programmes.
Groundwork Wales shall implement environmental improvement schemes and ensure links into Communities First. These activities shall be supported by a volunteering and learning programme run by BTCV which will encourage and motivate skills development and further local engagement.
3) Project Objectives
. To provide a comprehensive, flexible service aimed at encouraging wide
community engagement
. To undertake small scale environmental projects which increases their
contribution to the local economy
. To undertake and coordinate clean up events and raise awareness of
implications of littering and dumping
. to support community groups to undertake practical environmental work
which will lead to improved access and enhanced biodiversity value
. Provide the technical understanding of participants to ensure
sustainability of implemented projects
. to provide training for volunteers to enable them to take responsibility
for their local environment;
. to provide transferable skills for volunteers that will benefit
community development;
. Provide a service based on local community action that increase the
number of individuals able to move to routes of employment (including social enterprise) or further training.
. To provide non-stigmatised and focused opportunities for volunteering,
training and learning linked to local referral and other agencies
. To work with agencies to access training pathways and routes to
employment

What will the project do:
KWT will oversee all litter and waste initiatives and implement a community 'adoption' programme. Activities include;
. Initial engagement of communities
. 'adoption' of local area and small-scale practical environmental
projects
. basic, informal training (H+S, risk asses, on site environmental
management skills)
. Identification of potential clients for more formal training programmes
. Management of litter contract for high profile, dangerous sites that are
unsuitable for volunteers
BTCV will work with the community groups to identify training needs and then prepare training plans and oversee the training programme.
. To deliver a range of accredited and non-accredited high quality courses
. To assess the needs and requirements for training of the local community
and to devise a project plan for delivering the required training in consultation.
. To prepare schemes of work, resources and session plans for this skills
area.
. To carry out appropriate assessment procedures and maintain accurate
records of participants' attendance, achievement and progression.
. To establish and maintain close links with other community learning
providers to ensure comprehensive learning opportunities to meet the needs of the volunteers
Groundwork implement a community green spaces programme and ensure that Communities First partnerships are fully engaged.
. Work with communities to transform areas into valuable community assets
. Engage with Communities First partnerships and identify environmental
projects
. Engage Groundwork Trust Teams and local authorities to ensure legal and
other compliances
. Commission external experts if required to implement project e.g.
drawings, plans, and consultants.

Email Address: louise.tambini@keepwalestidy.org

Geographical Area of Operation: All Wales

Organisation Core Business: To create effective action to achieve a cleaner, safer, tidier Wales'.

Who will be involved in delivering the project: BTCV , Keep Wales Tidy, Groundwork, CCW, Forestry Commission, Communities First Partnerships, Environment Agency Wales, Local authorities, Education/Training providers, Local community groups and organisations.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: Community groups, individuals, public sector, business sector, visitors,

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: All Spatial Plan areas

What might the outputs(activity measures): Number of community groups engaged, number of areas adopted by community groups, number of environmental enhancement projects undertaken (eg access, biodiversity), number of clean-ups undertaken, tonnes of waste removed, number of neglected areas brought back into community use, number of volunteers gaining new skills, people going on to higher level training/work/volunteer placements,

What might be the results of the project: Improvement in Local environmental quality, Participants entering further training or employment, changes in behaviour, new habitats created, existing features managed, community groups formed, increase in capacity of community groups as better relationships and networks are formed with delivery partners (local authorities and other public sector agencies)

What would its impact be: Increased pride in local area leading to greater involvement in environmental projects. Enhanced environmental quality, reduction in neglected areas, Increased connection of local communities with their natural environment, Increase in skills and employability among volunteers, Increased awareness of environmental issues among target communities, Change in attitudes towards sustainability and the environment,
Roughly what might be the scale of the project: All Wales over 5 years

Estimated Cost: £12.5 million

Where might the match funding come from: Environment Agency Wales, CCW, Welsh Assembly Government, Local Government, Lottery,

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Date: 26/10/07

Organisation Name: Anglesey County Council on behalf of the North Wales Business Support Partnership

Project Description: Provision of discretionary, harmonised financial support to SME's and new business starts, including but not limited to high growth sectors, across the six counties of North Wales. The purpose of the package is to stimulate a range of outputs, where these are not otherwise occurring through the operation of the market.

Email Address: jonpinnington@anglesey.gov.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Anglesey,Conwy, denbighshire and Gwynedd local authority areas. A harmonised business finance package will operate outside the Convergence area, in the Flintshire and Wrexham local areas.

Organisation Core Business: Local Government

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The four local authorities in the North Wales Convergence area, working in partnership with the two North Wales authorities outside the Convergence area The local authorities involved in delivering the project will work closely with Business Eye, the Welsh Assembly Government Enterprise Team and organisations contracted to the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver business support.

Who will be the end beneficiaries: New Business start ups and SME's, together with the proprietors and employees of these businesses and, indirectly, the communities in which this increased business activity takes place.

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: Anglesey, Conwy, denbighshire and Gwynedd local authority areas. A harmonised business finance package will operate outside the Convergence area, in the Flintshire and Wrexham local authority areas.

What might the outputs(activity measures): Businesses created, Businesses developed, employment, enterprises adopting equality and diversity strategies, new products and services brought to market.

What might be the results of the project: Increased business turnover, economic activity, employment, enterprises adopting equality and diversity strategies, new products and services brought to market.

What would its impact be: Increased GVA, greater prosperity for local communities.

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 1500 jobs created, 1500 SME's Assisted, 800 New SME's created

Estimated Cost: £15m

Where might the match funding come from: Private Sector

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Date: 04/09/07

Organisation Name: Bridgend CBC (on behalf of the six SE Wales Valleys Authorities

Project Description: The project will provide grants for SMEs below the levels of those operated by WAG. It will be a flexible grant scheme to assist SMEs to invest to create or safeguard jobs and where it adds value to the local economy. It will be designed to complement corresponding WAG schemes, mainly AIG, Torism grants and Proprty Development grants.

Email Address: ray.pearce@bridgend.gov.uk

Geographical Area of Operation: Six SE Wales Valleys Authorities (Torfaen, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent, RCT, Merthyr Tydfil, Bridgend)

Organisation Core Business: Local Authority

Who will be involved in delivering the project: The six local authorities

Who will be the end beneficiaries: SMEs in the target area

Spatial area/s to be covered by the project: the six SE Wales Valleys authorities' areas

What might the outputs(activity measures): Jobs created, jobs safeguarded, private sector leverage, number of SMEs supported, number of start-up businesses supported.

What might be the results of the project: Investments made by SMEs, stimulating private sector investment, create jobs, safeguard jobs, increase in number of VAT registered businesses

What would its impact be: Create net new jobs, net safeguarding of jobs

Roughly what might be the scale of the project: 2007 – 2013

Estimated Cost: c£2.5m grant money and £250,000 running costs per annum

Where might the match funding come from: Mainly private sector. Depending on any limits that may be put on ERDF percentage of total it may need a small amount of public sector match funding

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Date: 27/06/07