Key Measures Up to £10m investment in a volunteer brokerage scheme for unemployed people, creating 40,000+ opportunities £15.5m Community Resilience Fund, providing grant funding to small/medium providers in local areas at risk of deprivation during the recession £0.5m investment in the School for Social Entrepreneurs, doubling the number of social entrepreneurs who benefit £16.5m modernisation fund, supporting viable third sector organisations to become more resilient and efficient in the recession National campaign to raise awareness of the Government’s commitment to pay invoices within 10 days DWP pilot accreditation process and independent ombudsman, protecting third sector providers of welfare to work services Independent review of incentives for investment in social enterprise Up to £42.5m package of measures to provide real help now to communities, by supporting volunteering, charities and social enterprises.
£10m Volunteer Brokerage Scheme Why is the measure important? Improving skills and employability: 81% of job seekers said volunteering gave them a chance to learn new skills (survey of job seekers in Camden and Bedford, 2000) Providing supported opportunities: It is harder for people to absorb volunteering costs in a recession (Volunteering England, 2009). The people who might benefit most from its benefits may be least able to participate. What will the measure achieve? Starting April 09, approx 40,000 jobseekers will have access to work- focussed volunteering opportunities as part of their job search Objective: to help jobseekers to get back to work by accessing suitable, work- focused placements without their benefits being affected Available to jobseekers who have been unemployed for at least six months
£15.5m Community Resilience Fund Why is the measure important? Increasing demand for certain third sector services at community level: Key services: (1) employment; (2) legal and financial advice; (3) mental health support; and (4) support through family breakdown (OTS survey, Jan 08) Small/medium third sector service providers are most vulnerable owing to increased demand for these and insecure funding arrangement (OTS survey of local funders, Jan 08) What will the measure achieve? Investment in services that support people and communities affected by the recession. Needs and investment priorities to be determined locally. Targeted grants programme for small/medium providers (£30-100k turnover). Targeted at local areas that are at risk of deprivation.
£16.5m modernisation fund Why is the measure important? 78% of charities do not collaborate (respondents to Charity Commission survey, 2003) Estimated average external cost of a merger between 2 orgs is £20-30k (NCVO, 2009). Most small/medium third sector orgs cannot make this one-off investment. Idea driven by the third sector (NCVO Summit, Nov 08) What will the measure achieve? Objective: To enable sector providers to make the transition towards improved efficiency, performance and sustainability by investing in specialist advice (e.g. legal, financial and employment). Outcomes: Sharing back office functions; Developing consortia; and Facilitating mergers. Priority beneficiaries: third sector service providers working in deprived communities with people affected by the recession.
£0.5m to the School for Social Entrepreneurs Why is the measure important? The social enterprise sector is growing: In 2005/6 50.3% third sector’s income is earned through trading, compared with 23.3% in 2000/01 (NCVO) For every 10 social entrepreneurs supported by SSE, 30 jobs and 69 volunteering positions are created (NEF, 2006) What will the measure achieve? Objective: To expand the SSE’s network and double the number of social entrepreneurs supported. Outcome: To support the establishment of sustainable community-based organisations that drive social change, create jobs and contribute to the economy. Priority beneficiaries: social entrepreneurs operating in deprived communities where individuals and families are affected by the recession
Awareness Raising Campaign: Government Commitment to Pay Invoices within 10 days Why is the measure important? Supporting the sector to maintain cash flow is crucial to supporting the sector’s continued delivery of services to people affected by the recession (input from the third sector during action plan’s call for evidence, Nov/Dec 08) Good commissioning and procurement practices are fundamental to the third sector’s delivery of effective public services (Public Administration Select Committee, 2008) What will the measure achieve? Objective: To raise awareness among public sector finance professionals of the importance of this commitment. Outcome: To help third sector organisations to meet the needs of people affected by the recession by maintaining effective cash flow
Other Measures: Increasing Demand for Services Refresh of the Compact: Supporting the third sector to deliver effective services during the recession through explicit focus on improving commissioning practice New Funding Information Web Services: Supporting the third sector to identify funding for the delivery of services to people affected by the recession
Other Measure: Tackling Unemployment DWP Pilot Accreditation Process and Independent Ombudsman for Code of Conduct Better protection of the interests of smaller, specialist and third sector providers of welfare to work services. This will support their contribution to improved employment outcomes. The independent ombudsman will intervene if providers break the Code of Conduct.
Other Measures: Strengthening the Sector Information for Third Sector on the Impact on Pensions Schemes: Targeting information to third sector organisations about the flexibilities available in developing affordable recovery plans in response to pension deficits. All Government support for businesses is for all business regardless of their mission: Includes Real Help with Finance (package of measures launched in Jan 09) Independent Review by NESTA of Incentives for Investment in Social Enterprise A 3 month task force – private and third sector working together reporting in summer 09