Funding arrangements

Funding fairly: Using the Compact to get full cost recovery

When money is tight and sources of funding are falling into the ‘slim-to-none’ category, any new grant programme or opportunity is likely to be welcomed with open arms. But with an unrelenting drive to make efficiency savings, the amount of funding available for publicly funded projects and programmes can be squeezed to such an extent that some charities end up subsiding the true costs of services themselves. This blog looks at why that's a problem and what can be done about it.

Ensuring Meaningful Engagement when Consulting

Ensuring Meaningful Engagement when Consulting provides a benchmark of the minimum expected in order for engagement on consultations to be considered meaningful, in particular when the public body is unavoidably restricted to less than a twelve week consultation period. If this happens a clear explanation as to why this is needed should also be provided.

The hot issues in policy and politics

A week on from NCVO’s annual conference and I’ve finally tackled my inbox (I think) and fulfilled my promise to post a blog. My colleague Adam Pickering and I were lucky enough to be invited to take part in one of the best attended sessions of the day in discussing ‘hot issues in policy and politics’ with over 100 delegates.

Wolverhampton: One contract for the voluntary sector

Wolverhampton has used their local Compact to improve efficiency by developing one standard contract between voluntary and community organisations and the City Council.

Gateshead: A winning partnership

Partners in Gateshead have developed a series of innovative projects and policies, including Community Asset Transfer Policy, the Gateshead Volunteers Big Idea, and a Commissioning Improvement Policy. The local Compact enables the Council to commission a number of its services to the Voluntary and Community Sector, ensuring a strong partnership and a strong sector.

Is transforming local infrastructure a good thing?

One of the things I like about my job is that I get a great overview of what current key issues for the voluntary and community sector are, and get to know what is happening locally. We all know that this is a time of change and upheaval, brought about by shrinking resources and a new policy agenda. The emphasis is on doing things differently and on finding innovative ways to provide services.

North Lincolnshire: Compact-proofed funding cuts

North Lincolnshire Council has shown commitment to its voluntary and community sector partners by working with them to ensure that where cuts to their funding have been made, they have been done so in a fair, sustainable and Compact compliant manner.

Compact Voice Impact Report 2010

Published by Compact Voice in 2011, the Impact Report highlights the key activities and achievements delivered by the Compact Voice team during 2010.

Lewisham: bridging the gap

The commitment shown to its partnership with the voluntary and community sector (VCS) by the London Borough of Lewisham aspires to more than just working together. It recognises that where the sectors work in true partnership their priorities become mutual and the boundaries between them become less distinct.

Watford Borough Council: building VCS resilience in the context of cuts

The relationship between Watford Borough Council and the voluntary and community sector groups it funds is built on openness and trust, which has ensured that their partnership has survived despite facing the full force of the financial storm.