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Government action

 

Real help for communities, volunteers, charities and social enterprises

In February 2009 the Office of the Third Sector launched its Action Plan ‘Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises’ (PDF 269KB - Cabinet Office website).

The plan contains a pledge by Government of £42.5 million to help volunteers, charities and social enterprises face the economic downturn.

Breaking it down

£15.5 million

A £15.5 million Community Resilience Fund will give grants to small and medium sized voluntary organisations that provide services such as skills development and debt and family breakdown advice in the most deprived areas. This is in addition to the £130 million already committed to the Grassroots Grants Programme.

£16.5 million

A £16.5 million Modernisation Fund to help third sector organisations access specialist services in mergers and partnerships. The funding will be jointly delivered by Futurebuilders and Capacitybuilders. Find out more about the modernisation fund.

£10 million

Up to £10 million investment in a volunteering brokerage scheme for unemployed people. However the scheme, funded by the Department for Work and Pensions, opened at the beginning of April with only £8 million.

£500,000

A £500,000 investment in the School for Social Entrepreneurs to expand its action-learning programme to support social entrepreneurs.

Other support in Real Help for Communities

Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises contains a range of other actions that will both enable the third sector to deliver real help now in more effective and efficient ways and support the sector to emerge from the recession stronger and more sustainable. You can download a key milestones chart of all the various actions announced below:

In addition to the support announced in Real Help for Communities, there is also a package of support designed to address the cash flow, credit and investment needs of small and medium sized businesses announced by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR). The package of support is accessible to third sector businesses as any other. Details of the support can be found via the link below:

Background

Underpinning the Government’s development of Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities & Social Enterprises, the Office of the Third Sector formulated a number of guiding principles. These principles emerged from the NCVO summit on the economic downturn, co-chaired by the Minister for the Third Sector, Kevin Brennan, in November 2008. They aim to guarantee that the measures implemented by Government are targeted at the right parts of the sector and ensure continued and strengthened delivery to deprived communities.

The Principles:
  • Helps achieve economic growth, equality and social mobility
  • Delivers real help now and in the future for individuals, families and communities
  • Ensures as many resources as possible are directed into frontline services
  • Encourages third sector organisations to work together to provide help now and in the future
  • Provides a rapid response to current and emerging needs

Related Documents: