Policy
11 July, 2008
Government committed to strengthening the third sector
The £70 million Communitybuilders fund unveiled in White Paper
Secretary of State for Communities, Hazel Blears announced this week the government's continued commitment to strengthening the third sector by unveiling the £70 million Communitybuilders fund, a joint programme between Communities and Local Government and the Office of the Third Sector, in the White Paper, Communities in control: real people, real power.
The fund is targeted at community organisations and social enterprises that are hubs for wider community activities. It is anticipated that around 400 organisations from England will benefit from the scheme, which is a mixture of grants and loans.
Communitybuilders is just one part of a larger package of support for the third sector in the White Paper. The White Paper recognises the importance of creating the conditions for a healthy third sector, and this package will support all aspects of community activity at the local level - from community leadership to commissioning.
Commenting on the fund, Hazel Blears said:
'Local residents have a strong understanding of what they want and need in their neighbourhood, and community organisations help to strengthen and empower all members of a community to become actively involved in the wellbeing being of their local area.
The Communitybuilders scheme is a powerful, practical way to help empower people in their local community. It will support and develop the local organisations that provide a vital focal point for community life, bringing people together and providing services and activities under one roof.
The third sector have made it clear that there is a real need for this type of funding - supporting community organisations to become more independent and delivered by someone who understands them and their needs alongside a broader package of measures. The Government has listened and this is exactly what we will be doing with this programme - one part of approaching £100m of new support for the third sector.'
A delivery partner will be selected following a competitive procurement process starting in due course, and funding is expected to begin in Spring 2009.
For more information, see the Communities and Local Government press release Blears commits to a thriving community sector.
The White Paper Communities in control: real people, real power is available here.
See also the related rightsnet policy new stories -
- Panel members appointed to Third Sector Advisory Body : Helping the government make the right choices for a thriving third sector (2 July, 2008)
- Majority of Local Authorities prioritise the third sector in LAA: 62% choose one of the two third sector indicators (30 June, 2008) x
- MoJ announce launch of Third Sector Strategy: 'To create an environment where the third sector can thrive' (6 June, 2008)
- Government reconfirms its commitment to the third sector in the Comprehensive Spending Review: £515m will be invested between 2008 - 2011 (11 October, 2007)
- Prime Minister backs voluntary sector in keynote speech: Reaffirms his commitment to three-year funding as the norm (4 September, 2007)
