Capital Grants Programme

Developing third sector resource centres across England

Key documents

 

By 2011 Capacitybuilders wants to increase the access that third sector organisations have to high quality, relevant and affordable shared facilities and services offered by local resource centres across England.

What is a resource centre?

We are defining third sector local resource centres as “a building or area within a building, which is used as a base for providing development and support services to frontline third sector organisations within a local area.”

Specifically, such centres will: 

  • offer accommodation or shared services and facilities to frontline organisations 
  • offer services accessible to all frontline third sector organisations

Shared premises and facilities

We will support the creation and development of shared premises and facilities for third sector organisations in England.

Increased collaboration

We will support initiatives that encourage collaboration and shared ‘back room’ functions, and aim to help third sector organisations which own or run resource centres make the best use of these assets in supporting frontline organisations.

How will this happen?

In many cases, this will mean supporting the development of buildings with multiple third sector tenants.

In others, it will mean supporting buildings which offer multiple support services for the development of third sector organisations with a focus on the shared use of facilities.

Sustainable support for frontline organisations

Our capital investment should result in more efficient, effective and sustainable support services for frontline organisations.

Outcomes

We want new and existing local third sector resource centres to increase third sector access to shared facilities and services.

Scaled investment

We are awarding a phased, scaled investment in three tranches:

Phase one (Strand A)

The first phase of the programme has provided an excellent opportunity for established centres to secure an injection of funds, enabling them to make better use of existing resources.   NB: The application deadline to this first phase has now closed.

Grant awards

61 grant awards of up to £30,000 have been awarded to functioning resource centres across England to support smaller-scale improvements, such as improvements to the availability, accessibility or quality of accommodation - or shared facilities such as additional meeting rooms, office or storage space, better ICT, or access to resources such as a common library.

Phase two (Strand B)

Expressions of interest

Expressions of interest for the second phase of the programme - available to support significant refurbishment and development of premises - were invited from existing or developing resource centres.  NB: the closing deadline for this has now passed.

Business planning

Following the initial expression of interests process, 20 successful applicants have been invited to submit more detailed business plans outlining how they will significantly refurbish and develop their facilities to benefit the local communities they serve.

All plans will be assessed by Capacitybuilders' Funding Committee in the Autumn. 

Grant awards

Final decisions about which of these 20 organisations will receive a share of the funding available under Phase Two will be announced later in the year.

Phase 3 (Strand C)

The final phase of the programme will invest in around five ‘flagship’ projects that will develop or significantly expand local third sector resource centres.

Expressions of interest

Expressions of interest for this phase of the programme, were invited from existing or developing resource centres.  NB: the closing deadline for this has now passed.

Business planning

Following the initial expression of interests process, 8 successful applicants have been invited to submit more detailed business plans for further assessment by Capacitybuilders’ Funding Committee.

Grant awards

Grants will be made later in the year.

Programme overview

Strand A  B  C
Focus Premises improvement  Significant refurbishment  Flagship projects
Size of grants Up to £30k  £50-200k £200-£500k 
Period of investment  Up to March 2009 Up to March 2011 Up to March 2011 
Application process Single application form by 31 January 2009

Expression of interest by 31 January 2009

Business plans by Autumn 2009

Expression of interest by 31 March 2009

Business plans by December 2009
Match funds required? No No Yes 
Revenue support available  No Yes  Yes 

NB: Resource Centres may only apply for one grant under this programme