Policy
22 March, 2007
Futurebuilders progress report published
Chancellor announces extension for 'highly innovative' programme
The Futurebuilders Advisory Panel (FBAP) has published their first progress report on the government's Futurebuilders programme in which they welcomed its work as 'highly innovative' and 'ahead of its time.'
The FBAP recognised the programme's success in distributing valuable funding to third sector organisations across the UK and recommended the Futurebuilders fund should be continued into a second phase to run from 2008–2011.
Welcoming the FBAP's findings, Ed Miliband, Minister for the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office, said -
'Locally–led, with the right support at the right time, Futurebuilders can help unlock the third sector's potential. With a solid foundation from the state, and the sector's compassion, commitment and creativity, Futurebuilders shows how effective partnership can make society more just.'
Additional conclusions in today's report include -
- The 5 broad delivery areas which form the existing criteria for funding applications should remain in place until the second phase, at which point they could be expanded to include other delivery areas;
- The Futurebuilders Fund is widely perceived as a robust and successful policy programme that is enabling a growing number of third sector organisations to build their capacity to win and delivery public service delivery contracts;
- Though still in the early stages of measuring benefits to service users, the Panel notes the positive impact Futurebuilders is having on third sector organisations that have received investment and recommends the Cabinet Office consider how best to capture the programme's 'social return on investment';
- Futurebuilders should be actively involved in the implementation of the Cabinet Office's Partnership in Public Services action plan and its actions on strengthening national, regional and local commissioning processes; and
- Development grants can deliver significant benefits at modest cost, and should continue to be part of Futurebuilders investment portfolio.
NB - In his budget speech, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that the Futurebuilders fund would be extended for a second phase to run from 2008-2011 and that the current funding criteria will be widened to enable the sector to apply for funding to deliver in all areas of services provision. Currently, applications are eligible for just 5 areas –
- crime;
- community cohesion;
- education and learning;
- health and social care; and
- support for children and young people.
Source: Futurebuilders Advisory Panel publish their first progress report on the Futurebuilders fund - Cabinet Office press release.
The Futurebuilders Advisory Panel Report to Ministers is available here.
