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Last updated: 21 September 2009
14 September 2009
The second phase of the Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund grants programme opens today. Organisations that have already received support under the first phase are invited to apply for grants worth £10,000 that will help them to collaborate or merge.
The £16.5m Modernisation Fund is part of the Office of the Third Sector’s Real Help for Communities action plan to support third sector organisations through the recession. The fund is targeted at organisations that are delivering services to people and communities affected by the recession.
The first phase of the Modernisation Fund grants programme opened in June and has offered over 1000 bursaries worth £1,000 to third sector organisations wanting to explore the potential benefits of collaboration and merger.
Grants are now available from Capacitybuilders to bursary holders. Organisations have until the 9th November to apply. Early applications are welcome as some awards will be made in October 09. Interest-free loans are also available. The Modernisation Fund is being delivered by Capacitybuilders. Please visit the Capacitybuilders Modernisation Fund website via the link below for more information:
One organisation that has already benefited from the fund is The Jericho Centre in Birmingham’s Balshall Heath. The Centre grew out of community action in the 1980s to address drug dealing and prostitution and went on to tackle joblessness and poverty through its drop-in centre. They are using a Modernisation fund bursary to look at how partnership working could help them respond to the pressures of the recession.
Eric Douglas, Director of the Jericho Centre, commented:
“We’d already decided we needed to look at collaboration and partnership but the advice the bursary is paying for will help us to look closely at ideas about how that can happen”.
Speaking about the funding programme, Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector, said:
“The Government wants to help third sector organisations emerge from the recession stronger. Our investment in developing collaborative working will enable the third sector to respond more flexibly to changing prorities.
“I have been very impressed by the willingness of third sector organisations to take this opportunity to look beyond traditional organisational boundaries and do whatever is necessary to get help to the people that need it. I have no doubt that phase two of the Modernisation Fund will lead to some highly innovative projects that will result in better support for people who need help."