Tremendous response leads to delays in Capacitybuilders’ grant decisions

27/03/2008

An exceptionally high level of interest in Capacitybuilders’ Improving Reach programme was experienced earlier this year with over 1,000 organisations submitting an application for funding. Capacitybuilders expects to make around 100 grant awards for the £18m three year programme.

The level of demand for limited funds has resulted in the organisation taking the decision to delay announcements on the grant awards until the end of May 2008. The organisation also confirmed a one month delay to announcements on decisions for the new three year, £18m, Consortia modernisation fund.

Jon Fox, Director of Strategy and Policy commented :

“In order to meet our commitment of assessing applications to a high standard and with the appropriate degrees of fairness and transparency, we have taken the decision to delay announcements on the grant awards for these two programmes. The delay is to allow for a thorough and rigorous assessment process. We apologise for the frustration that this causes for organizations that have applied for the funding.”

Capacitybuilders’ Annual Conference on the 17 June will provide an early opportunity for the successful Improving Reach applicants to meet with other ChangeUp funded organisations and to take part in a variety of workshops and discussions.

ENDS.  208 words

Editors notes:

Improving Reach

The three year Improving Reach programme focuses on increasing access to
high-quality support services that are appropriate to the needs of frontline organisations working in and with excluded communities. The programme also aims to increase capacity and sustainability for smaller third sector providers specialising in delivering support services to frontline organisations working with excluded communities.

Consortium modernisation fund

The three year £18m, consortium modernisation fund is a principle strand of the Local and Regional funding programme for 2008/11. A further £12m has been allocated over three years in Consortium development grants.