RDAs fund initiatives through a variety of third party organisations to deliver projects to increase economic growth, such as on workforce development and economic inclusion. The specific focus and priorities of such activities are set out in each region’s Regional Economic Strategy.
The following funding has been provided by RDAs to trade unions as requested in the question.
RDA Trade union Purpose Funding (£000) AWM National Farmers Union Grant to support Blue Tongue awareness literature. 9 National Farmers Union Grant to support counselling service to farming communities following the rural floods. 25 Unity Grant to support return to work assistance for workers within the ceramics industry. 150 Union Learn Grant to refurbish and equip 20 new learning centres managed by trade unions within employers to provide access to training. 82 Total 266 EEDA National Farmers Union Contribution towards ‘Blue Tongue Information Day.’ 1 National Farmers Union Contribution to sustainable future for sugar beet producers. 35 Total 36 EMDA National Farmers Union Marketing support to raise awareness of the Blue Tongue disease across the farming community. 3 National Farmers Union Grant payment to the NFU for the Joint Venture Farming Group. The main remit of the group being to assist with knowledge transfer between farms. 12 Trade Union Congress To build management skills in the workplace by using the specialised knowledge of trade unions in order to target organisations in which to offer assistance. 114 Trade Union Congress Grant funding to help skilled migrant workers achieve their potential by utilising existing skills and offering learning opportunities to gain a recognised qualification. 47 Total 176 LDA Trade Union Congress Diversity Works for London project. The funding enabled the TUC to train union reps and members on the importance and benefits of diversity in the workplace. 86 Public and Commercial Services Union To cover the cost of legal advice provided to a member of LDA staff as part of Compromise Agreement negotiations. 0.3 Total 86.3 NWDA National Farmers Union Sponsorship of Blue Tongue Awareness Campaign. 3 Trade Union Congress Grant funding for delivery of skills strategy. 44 Trade Union Congress Promotion of Liverpool Capital of Culture website to union members. 2 Trade Union Congress Funding of policy officer post to implement the delivery of Regional Economic Strategy objectives relating to skills and workforce development. 47 Total 96 ONE Trade Union Congress Funding in connection with the ‘Working Together’ project to help local companies raise their profile. 101 Total 101 SEEDA National Farmers Union South East Blue Tongue Outbreak in the South East. SEEDA provided a grant to support the joint NFU Campaign to promote and assist the NFU raise awareness for farmers for take up of the BTV8 vaccine to protect livestock in the South East. 14 National Farmers Union Bio-security Co-ordinator: A joint funding venture for the Industry Disease co-ordinator, for raising, prevention of disease control for Land Based business in South East. 2 National Farmers Union To promote a Phase 2 campaign against a new virus in the South East and to raise awareness for farmers in the South East continuing to March 2009. 4 Total 20 SWRDA South West TUC Learning works for all—A project to increase productivity and performance especially through raising skills levels, encouraging innovation and promoting learning to employees. 447 South West TUC Environmental Driver Implementation Plan—Green South West workplace projects. 49 TUC (Cornwall Union Learning Services) TUC Learning Services—Cornwall. To generate more Union Learning Representatives and work-based learners. 16 National Farmers Union Modernising Rural Delivery: Uplands delivery. Funding for South West Task Force conference. The conference was hosted by the South West Uplands Task Force, established with the support of the National Farmers Union and the Countryside Landowners Association. 5 Total 517 YF National Farmers Union Funding for the production and distribution of a mail shot by NFU to create awareness of the Blue Tongue “Don't hesitate. Vaccinate!” campaign 3 Yorkshire and Humber TUC To support the National Learning at Work Day and National Adult Learners Week with a principal aim of promoting training opportunities in the workplace and identifying learning and training needs of employees. 30 Yorkshire and Humber TUC To support the programme English for Speakers of other Languages (ESOL). This funding allowed 300 beneficiaries to take the ESOL course. 302 Yorkshire and Humber TUC To support Union Learn events and a Policy Officer working for the Yorkshire and Humber TUC delivering the Regional Economic Strategy and promoting the work of RDAs among the regional union network. 45 Total 380