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Strategic change in local and regional support

Consortia, or local and regional support networks, aim to improve support provided to frontline organisations

In 2006 Capacitybuilders committed to reviewing the effectiveness of ChangeUp consortia, to inform its policy on funding for 2008-11 and in 2007, the Consortia Development Fund was launched.  This focused on:

  • consortium development
  • region-wide Consortium collaboration
  • business planning to 2011 and strategic planning to 2014

Continued investment

The £30 million local and regional fund* for 2008-11 has two principal strands, both of which commenced in April 2008:

  • £12m in consortium development grants to local and regional consortia, tied to delivery of core roles locally and strategic outcomes, and a clear relationship with Capacitybuilders.
  • £18m modernisation project fund, to help achieve a step change in the way third sector support services are delivered locally and regionally.

*The grants are being made available to ‘locality-based’ consortia which aim to work across the third sector within a given local area, subregion or region.

Strategic role

We are keen for consortia to take a more strategic role and Consortia Development Grants will support:

  • Continued development of the consortium as an effective partnership
  • Delivery of core consortium functions, including communications, strategic planning and engagement
  • Development and delivery of the strategic roles with strong links to local-decision making, including local strategic partnerships and Local Area Agreements, and the skills to respond to changing environment.

Consortia Modernising Support Projects

Capacitybuilders wants its funding to help ensure more effective and efficient services to the frontline and expects a range of projects highlighted in consortia business plans to be funded under the modernisation programme. Resources are more limited than in previous years, and Capacitybuilders will only be able to support a limited number of projects in each region.

Modernisation of sector support services remains a key challenge in implementing Destination 2014 – the strategy for the delivery of ChangeUp - and this funding programme will help local support services to prepare for a more competitive and demanding funding environment in the future.  

Additional investment

An additional £25,000 has been allocated to agencies concerned with co-ordination, advice and communication across local and regional consortia.

Capacitybuilders' Regional Managers will lead negotiations with these stakeholders and agree proposals for the use of these funds in 2008/9. Further announcements about this will be made available in due course.

Further information

For further information about the local and regional funding programme, including details of Modernising Support Projects and Consortia Development Grant allocations, please download the links below:

Key Documents