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Funding
There are currently no funding programmes open for application. Click here to read more about how our funding is helping to build a stronger third sector
Research
Sustainability for support services - see case studies highlighting how Capacitybuilders' funding has helped some third sector organisations become more sustainable.
We want third sector organisations to be able to access high quality support and advice.
Latest news
Findings from the independent evaluation of ChangeUp - covering the initial funding period for the programme from April 2004 to March 2008 - show how the programme’s early focus on partnerships and greater collaboration contributed to a significant distance travelled in the way that third sector support services are organised.
This led to greater stability and resilience and opened up greater funding opportunities and influence.. The report also highlights high levels of satisfaction amongst users of local support services.
The evaluation, carried out by the Third Sector Research Centre, BMG Research, Guidestar Data Services and Sustain Consultancy, concludes that by the end of the first phase of ChangeUp investment, partnerships established at a local level in response to the ChangeUp programme had supported the development of better local relationships between third sector organisations and public agencies, leading to greater influence within local decision making.
However, the evaluation also identifies the need, going forward, for the programme to address different rates of progress in local partnerships, and to ensure improvements in partnership working contribute effectively to the development of services for local frontline third sector groups.
The report was published by Capacitybuilders this week and is available on the Improving Support website. It was overseen by an independent advisory panel - chaired by Danielle Walker Palmour – which also included representation from Charities Evaluation Services, OTS, the NAO and the Cities Research Centre.
Commenting on the report, Capacitybuilders’ Chief Executive Matt Leach said:
"The evaluation provides a valuable insight into the impact of the early years of ChangeUp investment, highlighting in particular significant improvements made in partnership and collaboration in the delivery of support at a local level. Effective partnership, joint working and collaboration will become increasingly important as demand for support services continues to increase against a background of tighter funding across the sector.”
Following publication of the evaluation of ChangeUp to March 2008, the evaluation will now shift to evaluating the progress of ChangeUp from April 2008 through to March 2011, and will publish further reports during 2010-11.
Quick Facts:
• Capacitybuilders, the government agency responsible for improving the advice and support available to frontline third sector organisations took over the management of the ChangeUp programme in April 2006
• The ChangeUp framework has been backed-up by three phases of Government investment: 2004-06, 2006-08 and 2008-11
• Government investment for 2004-2008 was £150m with a further £88.5m confirmed by the Office of the Third Sector for the three year period 2008-11.
96 charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises are set to receive a share of over £2.2 million capital investment to improve vital facilities they provide for their communities.
Small scale improvements
The grants, worth up to £30,000 each are part of Capacitybuilders’ Capital Investment Programme and will support small scale improvements to local third sector resource centres across England.
Funding for the Capital Investment Programme comes from the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.
Developing effective and sustainable support services
As a direct result of this latest funding, a wealth of frontline groups will benefit from more effective and sustainable support services, enabling them to better meet the needs of local communities impacted of the economic downturn.
Meeting local third sector needs
In response to the needs of third sector organisations and community groups in Bradford, for example, Grange Interlink Ltd are using their £30,000 grant award to renovate an unused internal courtyard into a fully equipped, multifunctional conference facility.
A safe and valued environment in which to thrive
As well as helping local groups to become more effective in a safe and valued environment, these new facilities will also allow Grange Interlink to deliver training to third sector organisations on a range of topics such as how to respond to the changes brought about by the recession.
Affordable and accessible facilities
Similarly, a grant award of £18,000 is enabling CAN Mezzanine Ltd to provide affordable and accessible virtual office facilities to a range of local charities and voluntary and community groups across London.
Shared resources
With a focus on sharing resources and collaborative opportunities, they aim to provide access to hot desks and conference and meeting space as well as training and networking opportunities and a comprehensive library resource.
Encouraging community engagement
With its grant of £29,500, The Colebridge Trust Ltd in Birmingham aims to achieve greater levels of community participation and use for services - particularly from groups that are hard to reach or poorly served because of factors such geography, culture and faith – by providing a mobile exhibition, consultation, meeting and office space for a range of third sector organisations to use for activities including community engagement and volunteer recruitment.
Improved service delivery
Speaking about the awards, Minister for the Third Sector, Angela Smith said;
“Small organisations can really benefit by not only improving the accessibility or quality of their accommodation, but by pooling their resources and sharing facilities they can also reduce their overheads and concentrate their resources on delivering the services that people and communities desperately need.”
Other capital investment from Capacitybuilders
Overall the Capital Investment Programme is worth up to £7m and is broken into three streams. Since its launch in 2008, nearly £1.4 million was awarded in the first round of grants under Strand A the programme, allowing 61 local resource centres to make improvements to their premises, just over £1.2million has been awarded under Strand B of the programme and Strand C awards are due to be announced in mid February.
Copies of the new Improving Support Magazine are now available. The theme of this second edition is ‘Change’. Published by Capacitybuilders, the magazine sits alongside the Improving Support website to bring together practical resources and learning for those delivering support and advice to the third sector.
Articles in the new edition of the magazine include:
- "Ask the expert’. Six support sector experts discuss how future changes might affect the way that support organisations work over the next five years.
- An in-depth feature on the future of volunteering and how third sector support organisations are finding innovative ways to help frontline organisations meet the volunteering challenges ahead.
- An insight into five new media and communications tools that are changing the way in which organisations campaign.
Click here to sign up to receive copies of the magazine.
The review, carried out by Grant Thornton, concluded that the phase one bursary scheme - managed by Capacitybuilders - proved an effective vehicle for delivery of the programme. The review also identified valuable learning points for future programmes of this sort.
In particular, the review highlighted:
• Bursary holders found the programme beneficial and commended its delivery, with the simple online application widely welcomed;
• Local Delivery Agents were positive about the programme, with all Local Delivery Agents surveyed believing the model should be re-used.
Over 800 frontline third sector organisations received support under phase one of the Fund, helping them access advice and support with the aim of identifying the options they have to improve their resilience, including collaboration or merger. Of them, 521 organisations have since received phase two grants of up to £10,000, to take forward their plans.
Commenting on the programme, Jon Fox, Director of Policy and Programmes at Capacitybuilders, said:
“The Modernisation Fund was based on an innovative approach to the delivery of targeted support to smaller frontline groups. We're delighted at the success of the programme and positive feedback from both frontline groups and local delivery partners."
A full evaluation of the impact of the Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund has been commissioned and will report later in 2010.
Click here to read the full delivery review.
About the Fund:
The £16.5 million Modernisation Fund, which was launched in early 2009 as part of the Government’s £42.5 million Real Help for Communities Action Plan, was set up to help frontline voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises be more resilient and efficient through the recession.
The Modernisation Fund comprised of a mix of grant and loan funding delivered by Capacitybuilders and the Social Investment Business.
Capacitybuilders opened the first phase of the Modernisation Fund grants programme for application in June 2009 and offered bursaries of £1000 to frontline organisations working in areas of importance to communities affected by the economic downturn.
All applications for funding through the programme are now closed.
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