DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by The Government News Network on 17 July 2008
Details of the
Third Sector Investment Programme published today
Care Services Minister, Ivan Lewis, today announced new funding
arrangements for Third Sector organisations in health and social
care that will make funding more transparent and effective.
The new system, known as the Third Sector Investment Programme,
replaces the 'Section 64 General Scheme of Grants'.
There will be two new funding schemes for 2009/10, which are now
open for applications.
The Strategic Partner Programme will recruit up to 10
organisations to act as Strategic Partners from the third sector.
These partners will receive funding to act as advocates for the
third sector more widely, making the sure the views of third
sector organisations are represented to the Department and
communicating departmental policies effectively to the third
sector. This new two-way role will improve understanding between
the Department and third sector organisations.
The Innovation, Excellence and Service Development fund will fund
projects that have the potential for national impact, contributing
to the Departments objectives of improving health and well-being
and creating better care for all. Organisations will be able to
apply individually, or in partnership with other third sector organisations.
Bids from potential Strategic Partners and applicants for the
Innovation, Excellence and Service Development Fund will need to
demonstrate that they can contribute to the following cross-
cutting themes.
* Information, advice and advocacy
* Personalisation, dignity and carer support
* Community / user participation and peer support
* Prevention / early intervention
* Reducing health inequalities
Ivan Lewis said:
"These updated arrangements for third sector funding will
make the system clearer, more transparent and fit for the 21st
century and have been achieved through close partnership and
consultation with the sector itself. I am delighted to announce
that the 2009/10 funding is now open for applications.
"Voluntary organisations play a critical role in improving
people's health and wellbeing, particularly for some of the
most excluded and hard to reach groups in our communities.
"The new Third Sector Investment Programme is designed to
ensure that the Department can support the sector to contribute
its full potential, in the context of a fair playing field in
which to compete for funding."
The new arrangements have been directly informed by an extensive
consultation with over 700 Third Sector organisations on ways in
which the Department could improve its funding of the health and
social care third sector.
Dame Jo Williams, Chief Executive of Mencap, said:
"The clear objective for health and care services is for
innovative and personalised support and treatment, leading to
improved experience and outcomes for people's health and
well-being. This provides huge opportunities for third sector
organisations to achieve their full potential in shaping how
health and social care services are delivered in future.
DH has worked very hard to understand the challenges faced by
third sector organisations. The new 'Third Sector Investment
Programme' is a hugely important step forward in building
trust and partnership between DH and third sector organisations at
national level, and supporting the sector, through Strategic
Partners, to engage in the reformed health and social care system
as valued and equal players."
Notes to Editors:
The Third Sector Investment Programme replaces the Section 64
General Scheme of Grants (project and core).
Funding support for the Third sector from the Department will
remain the same. Changes have been made to the design of the
schemes and priorities to make the system fairer and more transparent.
The Third Sector plays a vital role in the evolving health and
social care system but current funding arrangements needed to be
adapted to match the pace of change in increasing devolution of
funding decisions to local commissioners. The new way of funding
will encourage organisations to engage with PCTs as a mainstream
partner in the delivery of health and social care services with
support through the Strategic Partner Programme to improve
partnerships at local level.
Under the Strategic Partner Programme organisations will be able
to bid for a maximum of £200k per year to deliver activities for
sector organisations that increase capability, knowledge and
understanding from the existing budget. Strategic partners would
be monitored closely, meet regularly, be set key milestones to
meet, produce quarterly reports and be part of an independent evaluation.
More details on both funding programmes is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/thirdsectorinvestment
Applications for 2009/10 investment are now open. The closing
date is 8 September for stage one applications.
'Third Sector' describes the range of organisations
which occupy the space between the State and private sector. These
include small local voluntary and community groups, registered
charities both large and small, foundations, trusts and a growing
number of social enterprise organisations including Community
Interest Companies and Cooperatives.
Organisations in the
sector share common characteristics:
* non-governmental
* values-driven
* principally reinvest any financial surpluses to further social,
environmental or cultural objectives.
"Section 64" refers to part of the Health Services and
Public Health Act 1968, which gives Secretary of State for Health
the power to give grants to certain voluntary organisations for
health and social care services.