European Social Fund

The European Social Fund (ESF) is the oldest structural fund in the European Union. Its task is to reduce the differences in the standard of living between the persons and regions of the European Union in order to ensure consistency and social-economic solidarity and comprehensive balanced development. The ESF finances projects implemented on two planes: active fight with the unemployment and development of human resources on the labour market.

At the time when Poland joined the European Union, the Voivodship Labour Office has completed tasks related to implementation and service of selected EU aid programmes directed to social development. In the years 2007 - 2013, the Office has become responsible for implementation of the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development in the region. The budget of SOP HRD for the whole West Pomeranian voivodship, co-financed from the resources of the European Social Fund, amounts to over EUR 306 million. The so called regional component for the implementation of which the Voivodship Labour Office is responsible, covers four Priorities:

Priority VI Labour market open for all
Priority VII Promotion of social integration
Priority VIII Human resources in regional economy
Priority IX Education and competences development in regions

Within the four Priorities implemented by the Voivodship Labour Office in Szczecin, the interested entities apply for financing the projects related to training, counselling, aid, and education, developed by themselves, addressed to various social groups, that is: unemployed persons, persons looking for a job, and university/college graduates willing to set up their own business activity (Priority VI), persons exposed to social exclusion (Priority VII), enterprises and their employees as well as research employees (Priority VIII), children covered by kindergarten education, pupils attending schools of all types, their parents and educational staff (Priority IX).

The recipients of the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development may be divided into two groups:

applicants (originators of projects, beneficiaries) - that is, entities filing applications for financing aid, training, educational and other projects created by themselves;
final beneficiaries - that is participants of programmes mentioned above.

Projects within the framework of the SOP HRD may be completed in two modes:

contest mode - the applications for financing are filed in response to the contest announced by the Voivodship Labour Office,
system mode - the projects are completed by indicated units.

The information on the Sectoral Operational Programme Human Resources Development, projects in progress, conditions of their implementation and documents necessary to file an application are available on the website www.wup.pl or at Consultation Points of the European Social Fund in Szczecin and Koszalin. The points also provide information on training financed from the ESF resources.

Contact:
ESF Consultation Point in Szczecin:
tel. + 48 91 42 56 163, + 48 91 42 56 164
ESF Consultation Point in Koszalin:
tel. +48 94 34 45 025, + 48 94 34 45 026