NCVO Bursaries for Small Charities

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is offering 21 bursaries for small charities in England to attend either the Labour, Lib Dem or Conservative Party conferences.

The bursaries will cover entrance to the conference, one night’s accommodation and travel costs.

Additionally the winning organisations will be granted access to MPs, cabinet ministers and research and policy officers.

For more information or to apply click here (opens in new window).

Election 2010 – What Does It Mean For The Third Sector?

Campaigning for next month’s General Election is already in full swing, but what are the possible implications for government grants and funding?

With the big vote only a few weeks away, here’s a brief rundown of what the UK’s three major parties’ manifestos had to say about supporting the third sector:

Labour Party (opens a new window)

http://www2.labour.org.uk/uploads/TheLabourPartyManifesto-2010.pdf

• Introduce a £75 million Social Investment Bank to help create “social enterprise hubs” in every community.
• Extend the right of public sector workers to request they deliver services as a social enterprise.
• Promote community-scale renewable energy and district heating schemes.
• Greater support for third sector organisations to compete for public sector contracts.
• Encourage more local organisations to run on cooperative principles and oversee an expansion in the number of Community Interest Companies and mutuals.
• Widen share ownership to embrace a culture of “employee-owned businesses”.
• Herald a new age of mutualism where local shops, pubs, children’s centres and even football clubs become community-owned cooperatives.

Conservative Party (opens a new window)

http://media.conservatives.s3.amazonaws.com/manifesto/cpmanifesto2010_lowres.pdf

• Reform public service delivery to enable social enterprises, charities and the voluntary sector to play a leading role in delivering services and tackling social problems.
• Use unclaimed assets to create a “Big Society Bank” that will provide new finance for third sector organisations.
• Introduce a “fair deal on grants” to provide greater stability for third sector groups.
• Reprioritise the Big Lottery Fund to focus its support on delivering social action through the community sector.

Liberal Democrats (opens a new window)

http://network.libdems.org.uk/manifesto2010/libdem_manifesto_2010.pdf

• Pass a new Mutuals, Cooperatives and Social Enterprises Bill and introduce a new “Mutuals Minister”.
• Increase the role that mutuals, cooperatives and social enterprises have in creating a “more balanced and mixed economy”.
• Encourage community-owned renewable energy schemes.
• Use money in dormant betting accounts to create a capital fund to improve local sports facilities and community clubs.
• Bring in “easy giving accounts” at publicly-owned banks to enable people to have charitable giving accounts alongside their current or savings accounts.
• Reform Gift Aid to operate at a single rate of 23%.
• Empower educational charities to become involved in delivering state-funded education.

j4b, 15/04/2010

Purdah

It’s important to be aware that following the announcement of the General Election on 6th May the Government has now entered purdah.

Purdah is a political custom which prevents ministers and government officials from making any policy announcements which could be percieved as influential to voters.

This means it is unlikely for any new funding announcements to be made until after the election.

Click here for further information (opens in new window).

Communities Secretary Announces Increased Support for Voluntary Sector

John Denham has revealed four new steps designed to strengthen support for charities and voluntary and community groups.

The announcement has been made following a recent report showing that most people in England believe community spirit is still strong and that different cultures are mixing successfully.

The steps are:

 • Measures to ensure the transfer of publicly owned buildings to local community organisations.

• New grant schemes to allow local groups to become self-sufficient.

• Guidance to local councils asking them to consider third sector organisations when announcing new local government contracts.

• Helping community groups to generate new finance and become involved in delivering cost-effective services preventing social problems.

Mr Denham said:

“Today’s announcement further develops our support and commitment to local organisations, from helping them take over the running of a disused building to create a social enterprise or community centre to winning council contracts for local public services.

“We know that services are best when delivered locally so they meet the needs and aspirations of the community – and it is often the voluntary or not-for-profit groups that are closest to the community. They have greater trust invested in them, and they can represent individuals and communities whose voices may not always be heard.

“They can also often take a more cross-cutting approach to delivering local services – and should be used to their full potential.”

Department of Communities and Local Government, 06/04/2010