Capacitybuilders

Capital Grants Programme

Developing third sector resource centres across England

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

The first phase of the programme provides an excellent opportunity for established centres to secure an injection of funds, enabling them to make better use of existing resources.

Application deadline

This phase is open for application until the 31 January 2009, with up to £1m on offer for investment up to March 2009.

An application form is available to download at the bottom of the page.

Grant awards

Grants of up to £30,000 will be 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.

Assessment

Applications will be assessed and forwarded for decision by Capacitybuilders’ Funding Committee on a monthly basis; so early applications are more likely to succeed.

Phase two

Expressions of interest

Expressions of interest for the second phase of the programme, with around £2.5m of funds available to support significant refurbishment and development of premises, are welcome from existing or developing resource centres up to the 31 January 2009.

An ‘expression of interest’ application form is available to download at the bottom of the page.

Business planning

After this initial deadline, up to 50 applicants will then be invited to submit more detailed business plans for further assessment by Capacitybuilders’ Funding Committee in July 2009.

Grant awards

Grants are expected to be between £50,000-£200,000 and final awards are likely to be made in August 2009.

Phase three

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

Funding available

Around £1.5m is available under this phase with capital grants between £200,000 and £500,000 including the opportunity to apply for some revenue funds to support project development and delivery.