Capacitybuilders’ announce national investment in workforce and ICT projects

26/02/2008

Capacitybuilders has decided the priority for investment in new work programmes on workforce development and ICT in the third sector, to begin on 1 July 2008.

On 20 February the Board of Capacitybuilders made the following grant decisions for commissioning work at a national level:

Workforce Development

  • There will be a three year investment, of £150k in 2008/9 and £200k per annum in 2009/10 and 2010/11, in NAVCA’s SKILD programme to ensure the continued development of professional standards and training for sector support providers. This will include working with all national support service lead partners to ensure effective co-ordination and the quality of delivery.
  • Investment in supporting the national strategic ‘voice’ for third sector skills primarily to influence the development of appropriate skills and qualifications strategies for the sector. The investment will be £112k for 2008/9 only at this stage, awarded to NCVO, pending decisions on the establishment of a Third Sector Workforce Development Council and the development of a wider skills strategy for the sector. This work will also cover the promotion of relevant national occupational standards for campaigning and development workers.
  • Capacitybuilders has stated that there will be an independent review of the need for further investment in third sector leadership. The review will look at the sector's leadership development needs and opportunities, taking account of the existing programmes of the national support service programme on Leadership and Governance.
  • As part of this process, the review will assess the contribution of the Third Sector Leadership Centre, which Capacitybuilders has given a commitment to continue funding until the end of September 2008. Management support for the Centre is provided by ACEVO and NCVO.
  • A further investment of £150k in 2008/9, and £200k in each of the subsequent years, is to be considered in relation to the development of appropriate HR services, subject to further consideration of the best way to meet the HR needs of the sector.

ICT

  • Three year investment in regional ICT champions will be provided through NAVCA. The investment will be £300k in 2008/9 and £400k in each of the subsequent two financial years. The work will focus on ‘hands-on’ advice and networking between ICT support providers, working closely with ChangeUp consortia and other support providers.
  • There will be an initial investment of £150k in 2008/9 in the work of Rural-net to continue to develop the work of appropriate net:gain centres exploring a more market based approach to local provision of ICT support for the third sector. Financial support will be available in each of the following two financial years but these will be tapered grants in recognition of the market based approach of the work.

Commenting on these grant decisions, Simon Hebditch, Chief Executive of Capacitybuilders, said:

“ The Board is very glad to be able to announce these important decisions concerning our investment in workforce development the use of ICT in the third sector. All of these areas are of important to the sector.

Our overall aim is to bring about a real change in the effectiveness and efficiency of the sector, constantly seeking to drive up standards. These national priorities - working alongside our new national support service programme - will add significantly to these objectives.”

ENDS. 548 Words