What can be funded and for how long?

Project Duration

• Funding is available for the financial year 2008-2009 commencing 1 April 2008 up to 31 March 2009. Projects may apply for support up to 31 March 2010 but this will be subject to the approval of ULF funding by Parliament.

Project Size

• No maximum amount for bids in any one year, but we encourage unions to scope activity and objectives rigorously before identifying funding requirements.
• The amount requested in the bid should reflect a realistic level of activity and outcomes, and represent value for money.

Technical development

• Limited funding will be made available for those unions requiring support for the development of technology to support the project. This could be for the development of learning centres, communication and data collection systems or the provision and development of on-line learning.

Fees for ULRs attending TUC Education courses

• Course fees for ULR training and other unionlearn education courses can be funded through LSC core funding direct to the relevant unionlearn Trade Union Education unit or Workers' Educational Association provider who are registered to deliver unionlearn approved courses. Unions should not therefore request funding to cover fees for training ULRs as part of their ULF application.

Salaries

• The ULF will support the payment of salaries to project staff responsible for running the project.
• There will be no ongoing commitment to funding salaries.
• Funding will not be given to cover the salary costs of existing union posts
• Funding also will not be given to cover employer costs of releasing union members to attend training/learning activities or to train as ULRs.

Employer-funded training

• It is not intended that ULF should be used to replace employer-funded training, for instance by funding purely job-specific courses for employees, which should be the responsibility of employers.

European Social Fund

• ULF monies can be used to match fund a European Social Fund (ESF) project in certain circumstances.

Double Funding

• Double funding is not permissible and applications will be checked to ensure that we avoid any possible double funding. Where LSC regions, in conjunction with unionlearn, are operating a regional union learning fund, unions will need to demonstrate coherence between activities funded under each funding stream in order to ensure value for money.