Newcastle City Council – Grant Aid support to Voluntary and Community Sector Bryan Beverley Communities Support Team Manager Newcastle City Council

Introduction Context Approach Current situation Challenges Opportunities

Context Financial context – significant changes in Government funding of Local Government Use of commissioning process and grant aid Long history support to VCS in Newcastle (Newcastle Fund) and strong partnership Grants process at a spatial level that makes sense (one size doesn’t fit all) Funding to grants programmes either maintained or increased

Principles of review Grant giving is a partnership arrangement Focused upon policy/outcome based Based upon a dialogue with the VCS Grants Process needs to be open, transparent & consistent Use of less complicated, consistent and smarter approach Principles

Approach Range of grant programmes Strategic and local working together Strategic grant aid to use structured and consistent bid assessment process Across sector funding Recognise role of VCS in wider service delivery and how can NCC provide more effective support Inclusive, open and fair

Grant Aid Programmes Newcastle Fund – the Council’s strategic grants programme £900 – 200k Ward Committee Grant Aid £150 – 10k Newcastle Neighbours (cohesion) Project £100 - £300 Ward Capital Fund Community Building Fund Arts Development Fund Make your Mark (Area specific)

Grants process at a spatial/process level that makes sense (strategic) – The Newcastle Fund Annual programme Corporate process Multi-year applications Multiple applications from same VCS organisation Structured bid assessment process Cross Sector Panel Approximately 23% success rate 15x over subscribed Sophisticated feedback process Revenue only

Delivered via 26 ward committees’ Local focus Applicants in room (as are the public) Revenue or capital Not bid assessed Approximately 96% success rate (increased for 2012/13) Grants process at a spatial/process level that makes sense (Neighbourhoods) – Ward Grant Aid

Vision for Grant Aid Despite current financial challenge, we want grant aid in Newcastle to: Be greater than the sum of its parts Focus on outcomes for residents – especially most vulnerable Be used alongside other funds Be a simple, consistent and transparent process for all

Challenges Pressure on funds – the global situation The changing world Timescales Move towards commissioning Resilience of sector Innovation V need

Opportunities Collaborative working More joint up thinking Economies of scale A rethink – history rarely catalyst for change! Resource braiding Changing role for local government

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