Charities to receive promised funding

Social care charities were told this week that they would receive section 64 funding, as promised by the government.

The Department of Health said it would pay the remainder of funding for charities in years two and three of their section 64 funding each quarter during 2006-7.

Charities had been waiting for news on their allocations since last month, when the Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations said it had received a verbal promise from the DH that it would honour commitments (Tenterhooks over section 64 funding, 27 April).

Responding to question in parliament last week, former care services minister Liam Byrne said decisions on applications for 2006-7 awards were still under consideration.

Charities in years two and three of their funding had been given an interim amount equivalent to a quarter of this year’s allocation while the DH carried out a central review of all its spending.

Section 64 funding is given to voluntary sector bodies in England for health and social care projects that support the DH’s policy priorities. It is primarily aimed at national organisations.