Government unveils funding guidelines

New guidelines on how the £125m “futurebuilders” fund will be
distributed have been welcomed by the National Council for
Voluntary Organisations.

The fund, created by a Treasury cross-cutting review into the
voluntary’s sector’s role in public service delivery, will enable
grants to be given to voluntary organisations, and loans offered to
those groups who cannot raise finance commercially.

Cash will be awarded to organisations working in health and
community care, crime prevention, community cohesion, education and
learning and support for children and young people.

Money will be available from November and the government is now
looking to appoint a manager to decide which groups are eligible
for funding.

Chief executive of NCVO Stuart Etherington said there should be “no
more excuses for poor funding practices by government departments
and agencies working with the voluntary sector”.

Chief secretary to the treasury Paul Boateng said: “Futurebuilders
will fund the best ideas in order to create exemplars that inspire
and lead in voluntary and community sector delivery of public
services.”