European Social Fund in England

Publicity Requirements

Co-financing Organisations, other ESF beneficiaries, the projects they fund and other organisations that are publicising ESF opportunities, activities and achievements must acknowledge the financial help from the European Social Fund and European Union.

The main requirements set out below apply to all ESF and match funded activity.

Background

European Commission regulation (EC) No 1828/2006) outlines the information and publicity measures (Articles 2-10 and annex I) that must be carried out by member states for the period 2007-2013. These regulations have informed the production of: a 2007-2013 Communication Plan for the England and Gibraltar ESF programme; and specific publicity requirements in Co-financing Organisation and other ESF beneficiary Agreements and guidance documents.

Co-financing Organisations and other ESF beneficiaries have included specific publicity requirements in their agreements with providers.

Main requirements

Detailed information and publicity requirements can be found in ESF agreements and guidance documents. The main requirements for ESF beneficiaries, projects and others publicising the European Social Fund (and match funded provision) are set out below.

• The ESF logo and references to financial support from the European Union must be displayed when ESF opportunities, activities and achievements are described and/or publicised. This includes but is not restricted to display on the following:
  • all information and publicity materials, including websites, e-communications, correspondence and literature used by participants;
  • ESF programme documents such as regional ESF frameworks and Co-financing plans;
  • advertisements, press releases and other media targeted materials
• Co-financing Organisations, other beneficiaries and projects must display ESF plaques.
• Co-financing Organisations and other beneficiaries must ensure that:
  • information on funding opportunities offered by ESF and match funds is publicised as widely as possible;
  • ESF and match funded providers are each given an ESF plaque and comprehensive information about publicity requirements through contractual arrangements, supporting guidance and other measures, and that provider compliance is reviewed; and
  • they support other measures to publicise the ESF programme that may be agreed at national, regional and local levels.
• ESF and match funded providers must ensure that:
  • all participants are notified and reminded of EU and ESF support at the start of and throughout their activity;
  • the ESF logo and EU support are publicised on any document, including any attendance or other certificate concerning the administration of the ESF/ match funded activity;
  • data about the project is provided to the Co-financing Organisation or other ESF beneficiary, for inclusion in the publicly accessible list of beneficiaries and providers.