Futurebuilders launch new service to encourage the Third Sector to work together

In a bid to help the struggling Third Sector weather the current economic storm, Futurebuilders have introduced a new service for voluntary groups, charities and social enterprises.

 Merge-maker is an online matchmaking programme for third sector organisations wishing to join forces with other like-minded groups, through mergers, collaborations or the forming of a consortium.

 New webpages on the Futurebuilders site will allow organisations undertaking public service contracts throughout England to post their details and advertise for the types of partners they would like to work with.  Organisations will be asked to provide information such as what service delivery area they work in, what region they service, and what sort of partner they are looking for.

Currently, Futurebuilders are looking for groups to register their initial interest in taking part in the scheme.

 For further information visit:

 Website:  http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/news-and-events/futurebuilders-news/futurebuilders-to-launch-third-sector-%91match%11making%92-service/

 Press Release:  http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/images/stories/press_releases/27.04.09__futurebuilders_to_launch_third_sector_match_making_service.doc

 

Source: Futurebuilders

Modernisation Fund begins to take shape

More details of the work planned for the government’s ‘Real Help’ action plan for the hard-hit Third Sector have been revealed this week.

 

It has been announced that the Modernisation Fund, one element of the £42 million proposed programme, will be jointly managed by Third Sector infrastructure bodies Futurebuilders and Capacitybuilders.

 

Futurebuilders are planning to offer loans of between £30,000 and £500,000 to large third sector agencies with a turnover of £750,000 or more.  These cash injections are intended to support mergers between small and medium-sized third sector organisations and resolve financial and capacity issues.

 

Capacitybuilders will also be launching a funding programme in early summer 2009 that will offer smaller grants to groups with a turnover of less £1 million.  These grants are intended to encourage collaboration, merger or restructuring as a means of ensuring third sector groups continue to be sustainable and are able to weather the current economic storm.

 

For further information visit:

 

Futurebuilders:  http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/

 

 

Capacitybuilders:  http://www.capacitybuilders.org.uk/

 

Source:  Office of the Third Sector

Small third sector organisations given helping hand to secure public contracts

Good news this week for voluntary organisations as Futurebuilders England announces a new £220,000 funding pot to help small third sector and community groups land lucrative public contracts.

 

The programme, a joint initiative between Futurebuilders and the National Programme for Third Sector Commissioning (NPTSC), is intended to provide financial assistance to not-for-profit organisations keen to bid for public service contracts.  The funding could be used to cover the costs of tendering or build the capacity of small organisations. 

 

The initiative follows the Futurebuilders £1 million loan fund which was launched in the summer, and is part of a suite of schemes specifically targeted to help aid the third sector to compete effectively in the tendering process.

 

Eligible organisations must have a turnover of less than £250,000 and can receive funds worth 10 per cent of the value of the contracts they are bidding for.

 

For further information visit:

 

Futurebuilders: http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/

 

Source: j4b

Three-way merger proposed by Third Sector

Chief executives of Third Sector support agencies are this week calling for a merger between big-hitting funders Capacitybuilders, Futurebuilders and the Big Lottery Fund (BLF), in order to create a new independent, non-departmental public body for delivering loans and grants.

 

These calls come after claims made by David Blunkett in his recent Third Sector report that the BLF should be protected at all costs. 

 

Stuart Etherington, NCVO chief executive, claimed the proposed three-way merger would go one better than simply securing the future of the BLF.  Acevo chief executive, Stephen Bubb, called the suggestion a “great advance” that will undoubtedly cut bureaucracy and make grant applications infinitely simpler. 

 

Source NCVO

New Futurebuilders Fund!

Futurebuilders, a government-backed funding body which provides grants and loans to charities, will next month launch the Consortia Fund.  The Fund is intended to help charities increase their capacity by joining forces and improve their ability to compete with large-scale, private organisations for substantial contracts.

 

The Futurebuilders funding, designed to promote merges and joint ventures, has been introduced in response to claims from the Third Sector that they often experience a “lack of power in the marketplace”.  Certainly, a lack of Third Sector market influence has become more and more obvious in recent years – most notably, in last year’s bidding for contracts from the Department for Work and Pensions Pathways to Work programme, charities were regrettably, yet emphatically, shut out by private sector companies.

 

The Consortia Fund hopes to create more structural power for the sector by promoting consortia-building and joint ventures and will focus on more strategic thinking for the future of charities and voluntary groups.

 

For more information visit:

 

Futurebuilders: http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/

 

Department for Work and Pensions: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

 

Source: Department for Work and Pensions

15.10.08 (1)

Autumn changes for Futurebuilders…

 

Third sector investment agency, Futurebuilders England, is set to make big changes to its application processes this autumn.

 

From the 1 November 2008, the Futurebuilders online application form for the Full Investment programme will no longer be available.  Applicants planning to apply using this old method must do so before 31 October.

 

In addition, Futurebuilders will be conducting a number of free roadshows across the country in the coming months.  The sessions, aimed primarily at CVSs, infrastructure bodies and local authority funding advice workers, will provide information on new funds and changes to the application process and will even offer the chance to discuss proposals with Futurebuilders staff.

 

The dates and locations are as follows:

 

·                     Cambridge - Friday 3 October 10 -1pm

·                     Exeter - Wednesday 8 October 10 -1pm

·                     Bristol - Thursday 9 October 10 – 1pm

·                     Manchester – Friday 17 October 10 – 1pm

·                     Newcastle - Tuesday 21 October 10 – 1pm

·                     Oxford - Tuesday 4 November 10 – 1pm

·                     Birmingham – Thursday 13 November 10 – 1pm

·                     Newark - Wednesday 19 November 11 – 2pm

·                     York - Monday 24 November 10 – 1pm

·                     Brighton – Thursday 27 November 10 – 1pm

·                     London - Friday 28 November 10 – 1pm

 

Interested individuals should be aware that the sessions are very popular and places are limited.  In order to avoid disappointment, you should book a place by contacting Marianne or Sharon on 0191 2692873 or by downloading a booking form and emailing it to emma.kassube@futurebuilders-england.org.uk.

 

Download your online booking form at:

 

http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/Events/Roadshow.aspx

 

For further information visit:

 

http://www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk/content/Home.aspx

 

 

Source: Futurebuilders