Capacitybuilders - Improving support for a stronger third sector

17/06/2008

The annual Capacitybuilders conference, held today at Birmingham Town Hall, marked the beginning of a new three year funding programme. £17 million will be given to fund organisations that help the third sector to flourish through the provision of information, advice and facilities.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, acknowledged the conference as an important milestone in the development of Capacitybuilders and an opportunity to look at achievements to date and identify and discuss future challenges.

The Minister also announced details of over £17 million invested through the Improving Reach Programme, with Capacitybuilders awarding over 70 grants to increase the capacity and sustainability of smaller third sector organisations specialising in providing advice and facilities to volunteers working with excluded communities.

Highlighting the work of one of these new recipients - the Tutu Foundation – the Minister outlined how £448,000 investment will enable them to reach some of England’s most deprived communities, making it possible for 200 frontline organisations to help underprivileged young people.

The Minister also announced the launch of Capacitybuilders’ Social Enterprise Programme with £6 million being invested over the next three years in support of social enterprise.

Phil Hope said: “Both Capacitybuilders and the recipients of its funding have helped to create a more effective third sector by improving support for voluntary and community organisations.

This funding will greatly strengthen the sector through the provision of information, advice and facilities.

Social Enterprises play an important role in tackling social and environmental needs to develop a more sustainable society and create a better quality of life for individuals and communities.”

Catherine Johnstone, Capacitybuilders Acting Chief Executive, and Chris Pond, Chair, encouraged links to be actively made across the different programmes at national, regional and sub-regional levels - with the emphasis on Capacitybuilders as a listening and learning agency.

Chris Pond underlined that the success of the ChangeUp programme was not entirely dependant on funding. Commenting on the investment through regional and sub-regionally based Consortia, he said: “Real change happens when support services can effectively plan and collaborate.”

Capacitybuilders is backing this work with a further £12 million investment in Consortium Development Grants over the next three years.

In addition, flagship projects nominated by Consortia to modernise sector support have been awarded £10 million across three years.

Chris Pond said: “together, these represent a significant vote of confidence in local and regional consortia as key partners in delivering the ChangeUp vision on the ground.”

Catherine Johnstone reiterated Capacitybuilders’ commitment to the sector in delivering evidence on successes achieved through the programme to influence policy and secure continued funding from Government for 2011 and beyond.

The Acting Chief Executive commented that they would; “keep in view the fact that the ultimate prizes for third sector organisations are widespread recognition of the value of their work and sustainable long-term funding for support services.”