Merry Christmas!

…from the Fund-it Pundit and everyone at j4bCommunity!

 

We’ll see you in 2009 for more information about new funding schemes, approaching deadlines and sector and consultation news!

CLG big recipients revealed

A document released last week has revealed the big recipients of Communities and Local Government (CLG) funding in recent years.

 

The CLG department was prompted by a parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Mark Oaten to release details about its funding arrangements.  In particular, Mr Oaten wanted information to be made available on any organisation that has received more than £100,000 from the government in the past three years.

 

The document lists environmental charity Groundwork UK as the organisation that has received the most funding and claims they have netted almost £20 million in total, with £3.7 million in 2005/06 rising to £10.3 million in 2007/08.  A spokesperson from Groundwork UK, however, has suggested the figure is closer to £42 million, with the charity actually accepting around £14 million from the CLG for each of the three years.

 

Other big recipients, each receiving more than £5 million over three years, include homeless, housing and care charities St Mungo’s, Shelter and Look Ahead.

 

Source: Communities and Local Government

Third Sector Awards 2008

2008 has been a successful, if challenging, year for the Third Sector.  With the onset of a recession, it seems that now, more than ever before, the work carried out by charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprise is vital, with its influence felt at every level of society.  The Sector’s innovative and adaptable nature is undoubtedly key to its continued success and growing relevance – always ready to rise to a challenge, this year has seen organisations become greener, work together in unusual partnerships, shake up their grant-making and invest in research.

 

Nowhere are these facts more evident than in the results of the Third Sector Excellence Awards 2008. 

 

The Sector’s ability to produce small organisations that work effectively yet modestly at a community level is proved by Small Charity, Big Achiever award winner, Storybook Dads – an initiative that helps prisoners record CDs of themselves reading bedtime stories to their children. 

 

The Sector’s characteristically quick response to changing social and economic climates is typified by another award winner – Elizabeth Finn Care.  This organisation, set up to work with those living below the poverty line, fearlessly adapted their grant programmes and services as soon as the economic crisis struck and, as a result, has maintained its relevance and impact throughout 2008.

 

The Sector’s enthusiasm for working in partnership with a range of organisations, particularly those from the public sector, can be noted in Battersea Arts Centre’s blossoming relationship with Wandsworth Council, which scooped the Public Sector Partnership award.

 

The Sector can also be enterprising, as demonstrated by another award winner, Youth Net.  Youth Net is the first exclusively online charity and offers advice for young people.  2008 saw it turn over a very respectable profit with minimal outlay.

 

For more information about the Third Sector Excellence Awards 2008 and a list of all the other winners, visit:

 

http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/BigIssues/Details/58715/third-sector-excellence-awards-2008

 

Source: Third Sector

Funding Deadline Round Up!

Christmas is fast approaching and so are these January funding deadlines!

 

Capital Grants for Premises Improvements and Significant Refurbishment – Capacitybuilders – 31/01/09

 

Cut Your Carbon – East of England Development Agency – 31/01/09

 

Campus Capital Programme – Department of Health – 30/01/09

 

Tesco Charity Trust – Tesco – 31/01/09

 

Regional Skills Capital Development Fund – Learning and Skills Council – 31/01/09

 

Scotland: Investing in Ideas – Big Lottery in Scotland – 30/01/09

 

Wales: YAPP Charitable Trust – YAPP Charitable Trust – 31/01/09

 

Northern Ireland: Southern Board Drug and Alcohol Small Grants Scheme – Southern Board Drug and Alcohol Co-Ordination Team

 

For further information consult the j4bCommunity website:

 

http://www.j4bcommunity.co.uk/Default.aspx

Third Sector to stick together to beat the crunch…

Acevo chief executive, Stephen Bubb, has this week urged Third Sector organisations to stick together during the current economic crisis and warned they need to be prepared to try out new approaches.

 

According to Bubb, speaking at the Charities Aid Foundation’s Funding the Future Conference, Third Sector groups should be looking to form alliances with other similar charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises if they want to survive the next few years.

 

Bubb flagged up the Disasters Emergency Committee, an umbrella group comprising 13 UK charities who work in humanitarian and emergency aid, as a model of best practice, claiming whenever an international crisis occurs they work together effectively.

 

With the recession undeniably shaping up to be an international crisis – it’s time for the Third Sector to work together too…

 

Source: Acevo

New figures help government push to establish longer term funding for Third Sector

This month, Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector, has announced some figures which will serve as a baseline for progress on making multi-year funding for Third Sector organisations the norm.

 

According to a cross-department survey, the mean average for direct government grants that are available to voluntary and community organisations for three years or more, is 66%.  This figure will now be used as a benchmark to assess how effectively the government’s push to establish longer term funding over the next few years actually is.

 

Making funding for three years or more the norm rather than the exception is good news for the sector as the added security it offers will ensure voluntary and community groups, charities and social enterprises become more sustainable, more innovative and more cost effective.

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector.aspx

 

Source: Cabinet Office

Brennan’s challenge to Third Sector

Last week saw Third Sector Minister, Kevin Brennan, issue a challenge to the Third Sector.

 

Speaking about public services, Brennan called for the Third Sector to lead the way in this area in order to ensure excellence and fairness and bring communities closer together.

 

This announcement accompanies the release of a series of documents detailing how the government intends to work more effectively in partnership with charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises, in order to make the UK’s public services truly fit for 21^st century challenges.

 

So, are these proposals a good thing for the sector? Undoubtedly, more opportunity to strengthen communities and become involved with the development of vital services is a good thing for Third Sector groups.  But is there the possibility that by committing themselves to public services contracts, charities, voluntary and community groups and social enterprises could become agents of the state – possibly neglecting their own specialist areas for the sake of securing a lucrative contract? 

 

For further information about the documents released and the Third Sector’s developing public services role, visit:

 

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/news_releases/081211_challenges.aspx

 

Source: Cabinet Office

More skills funding for sector employees

Changes announced this week to the government’s skills service, Train to Gain, look set to benefit Third Sector organisations from January 2009.

 

From the beginning of the new year, in addition to the already existing access to training for GCSE and A Level equivalent courses, Third Sector groups will receive extra help to fund training for their staff and will be eligible for an extended leadership and management programme.

 

A relaxation of the services funding rules will mean employees working for Third Sector organisations will be entitled to more flexible training support, including:

 

•Accredited training modules and part-qualifications in essential areas such as business systems and communications.

 

•Fully funded Level Two qualifications and subsidised Level Three qualifications.

 

It is hoped this additional surge of funding will help Third Sector groups weather the economic storm, better serve their communities and consolidate the skills of their employees, particularly in the areas of leadership and management.

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.traintogain.gov.uk/

 

Source: Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills

Scottish Government’s funding boost for Third Sector

January 2009 will see the Scottish Government launch the £12 million Third Sector Enterprise Fund.

 

The Fund, intended to help mid-sized, ambitious third sector organisations build their capacity and ensure their sustainability, will offer grants of between £25,000 and £100,000.  It is hope the funding will enable organisations throughout Scotland to serve their communities better and develop a more enterprising approach to the way they conduct business. 

 

The Third Sector Enterprise Fund is the third fund targeted at the Third Sector to be introduced by the Scottish Government this year.  In recent months, the £30 million Scottish Investment Fund and the £1 million Social Entrepreneurs Fund have also been announced.  This “pipeline” of funding for advanced stage organisations, medium-sized businesses and new social enterprises, comes as a direct result of the Scottish Government’s decision to boost Third Sector funding by 37%.

 

Further details and guidance on how to apply will be available shortly on the Scottish Government website.

For further information visit:

 

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/15300/funding/enterprising-skills-fund

 

 

Source: Scottish Government

OTS launch new handbook on effective consulting

A consortium sponsored by the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and led by Involve, an agency that promotes public participation in health and social care research, have announced the results of a recent study into innovative consultation with the third sector.

 

The programme has resulted in the publication of a handbook, ‘Better together: improving consultation with the third sector’, for wider government organisations that wish to consult more effectively with voluntary and community groups, charities, local authorities and social enterprises.  It is also intended as a template of best practice for future OTS consultations.

 

Download a copy today at:

 

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/99612/better%20together.pdf

 

 

Source: OTS