ESF Funded Projects

WCVA Engagement Gateway and other similar ESF funded projects - Qualifications and Accreditation

Some of our centres are using qualifications and accreditation to meet the performance requirements of the WCVA Engagement Gateway or other ESF funded projects. In some circumstances, there has been confusion around how qualifications and accreditation contribute to these. Agored Cymru and the WCVA have produced the following information to clarify this. 

Project background

The Engagement Gateway scheme:

• Is partly funded through the European Social Fund , administered by Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO)  nd the project sponsor is Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA)
• Aims to reduce economic inactivity in Wales by improving the employability of people who face barriers to employment and are furthest from the labour market
• The scheme invests £34 million in organisations that work with the target groups, through contracts and grants
• Operates throughout Wales 

Performance indicators for Engagement Gateway

• The indicators are set out within the WEFO guidance
• There are two indicators that relate to learning: participants getting whole qualifications and those gaining positive outcomes, for example, through accreditation
• It is essential that you refer to your contract/grant with WCVA to establish whether you are required to attain whole qualifications or Quality Assured Lifelong Learning (QALL) accreditation as part of your funding requirements
• The following hyperlink will direct you to support for your project: WCVA - Advice and support for the Engagement Gateway Project

Whole Qualifications

If your project refers to participants getting full accredited qualifications:

• Ensure that the qualification sits on the Register of Regulated Qualifications (RRQ) or the Database of Accredited Qualifications for Wales (DAQW)
• Participants must complete the required components/units of the qualification to meet funding requirements if this is part of your contractual arrangements with the WCVA
• If your participants are required to get whole qualifications and they are completing QALL accredited learning then your contractual arrangements are NOT being met and this could jeopardise your funding 

Quality Assured Lifelong Learning (Standalone) Accreditation

If your project refers to participants gaining positive outcomes:

• Accreditation using standalone units not associated with qualifications can be used
• Participants would need to complete all of the units for this to contribute to the indicator 

IMPORTANT – Please ensure that your participants are undertaking the correct learning route, using qualifications or accreditation, expressed within your contract or grant.  Failure to do so may affect your funding.