Office of the Third Sector Homepage
The latest news and policy updates from the Office of the Third Sector.
As part of the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, the Government is inviting third sector organisations to advertise conferences and events for free in a newly developed interactive calendar and on the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills and the Europa websites.
A consortium led by Adventure Capital Fund (ACF) will deliver Communitybuilders £70m funding programme in partnership with Futurebuilders England and the Community Alliance. The fund is designed to strengthen the financial resilience of community led organisations - often referred to as ‘community anchors’ - who are looking to develop enterprise activities.
The £16.7m Hardship Fund, announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, will be delivered by the Community Development Foundation.The Fund will provide grant support to third sector organisations delivering front line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society and will be open for applications by the end of July.
The National Audit Office (NAO), with the Office of the Third Sector (OTS) and HM Treasury has published new guidance on intelligent monitoring that will cut paperwork while still enabling the Government to monitor the annual £12 billion funding to the third sector. The OTS has also unveiled principles for the monitoring of public funding for the third sector.
Over 250 frontline third sector organisations across England will benefit from the first £1000 bursary awards made today under the Government's Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund, which is being delivered by Capacitybuilders. The awards aim to help frontline groups increase their impact and become more resilient to the impact of the economic downturn.
The National Council of Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) & The Office for the Third Sector (OTS) have launched Funding Central, the new free website for comprehensive information about national, local and regional government funding, national, local or regional charitable funding, and EU funding.
Following discussions with the Prime Minister, the Office of the Third Sector is leading work across Government to further the third sector’s involvement in the delivery of public services through the establishment of a new MISC Cabinet Committee.
Futurebuilders England have announced a new partnership with Barclays Commercial Bank, whereby the bank has agreed to allocate £9.5 million to match the funding of the Government’s Modernisation Fund.
Third sector organisations are being encouraged to enter the Public Service Awards 2009. The awards, which are for all organisations involved in public services, are in two main sections: service delivery, and innovation and progress. Within each section there are a number of different categories. There is one further, special award for citizenship and volunteering which is designed to recognise volunteering and other initiatives that contribute to the community. You can find out more about the awards via the link below:
This year's Budget saw the announcement of a £16.7m Hardship Fund for the sector, building on the £42.5m Real Help for Communities action plan. The Hardship Fund will provide grant support to third sector organisations delivering front-line services to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society that have been affected by the recession.