Front-line charities to influence £20m programme. Front line charities should be allowed to decide what support they need, according to a fresh approach proposed in a new £20m infrastructure programme from the Big Lottery fund.
The programme, called Building Capabilities for Impact and Legacy, is designed to build support for charities to carry out their work – but the organisations first have their say on how this could be done.
The BLF has published a discussion paper about the programme. Interested parties have until 15 March to submit comments; a revised paper will then be drawn up.
The paper describes how this initiative, first announced in July, will not be a traditional grants programme: "It is not sustainable in the present situation to use limited lottery investment specifically to maintain the current structure of voluntary sector infrastructure bodies at national, regional or local level," it says.
It advocates there is no single solution to the diverse needs of front-line organisations and this programme should "test different approaches".
Bill Freeman, director of development at the local infrastructure organisation’s national body, the National Association of Community and Voluntary Action, said the paper appeared to signal a shift in the BLF's approach to capacity-building towards a more demand-led system.
He said he welcomed this, but added: "The downside is that infrastructure providers do other things as well, such as represent the sector."
Organisations interested in tendering to administer the first phase of the programme had until this week to complete pre-qualifying questionnaires.
Five organisations will be shortlisted and a chosen applicant is expected to be named in March. The successful bidder will manage the first £6m from the programme over three years. The sum could be extended by £4m over another two years, subject to evaluation.
Dharmendra Kanani, England director for the BLF, said: "The investment aims to develop the capabilities of local and specialist support providers so they can offer higher quality support to front-line voluntary and community organisations and social enterprises to increase their effectiveness as well as respond to changing needs and a changing funding environment." More details can be found at
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/building_capabilities
CEO of CVA Torbay, Liam McGrath said:"The implications for organisations in Torbay may be significant. There is stated intent to support potential applicants, especially those in areas less successful at getting Lottery funding. We have recent examples of success in Torbay but could certainly do with additional support. To assist, we need to demonstrate close partnership and understanding of needs and expectations between the Local Authority and the Voluntary and Community Sector. To play our part, the next meeting of CVA TORCOM will review the paper and offer answers to the principal questions it poses:
1.How can we ensure frontline organisations
have the information they need to be aware of
the most effective ways of developing their
capabilities and choose the right provider?
2. Should we consider any other approaches to enable
frontline organisations to choose the support that
they need?
3. Should we require frontline organisations
which receive support to develop ways of
sharing their learning with others? How can
we help them do this?
4. What are the key support needs which you think
frontline organisations may require in the future?
5. What role could we play in enabling social
enterprises to secure investment?
CVA Torcom meets at CVA Torbay, 11 Castle Road, Torquay. The next meeting is at 2 p.m. on Monday 13th February. All CVA Member organisations are welcome."
