Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund
HM Government
About the fund
In February 2009 the Cabinet Office announced Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises, an Action Plan including a series of new funding programmes targeted at managing the impact of the recession on the third sector.
Funded by the Office for the Third Sector, the £16.5 million Modernisation Fund will help third sector organisations be more resilient to the impact of the economic downturn.
The third sector includes voluntary and community groups, social enterprises, charities, cooperatives and mutuals.
The Modernisation Fund is focused on helping organisations that are providing services to those worst hit by the recession. The funding is targeted at helping these organisations overcome barriers to collaboration and merger, or take other steps to adapt to the recession.
One of the key principles of the action plan is to help achieve economic growth, equality and social mobility.
The fund is managed on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector by The Social Investment Business.
What is available?
Investments of between £30,000 and £500,000 are available to third sector organisations – charities, social enterprises and community organisations.
Investment can be used to cover the costs to develop partnership working, mergers, to help you increase service delivery, organisational development, or training existing and new staff. The fund offers loan finance that may include grants and business support (depending on the needs of the organisation).
News from Office of the Third Sector
To keep up to date with the Government's package of support for the third sector, organisations can sign up to the Office of the Third Sector e-bulletin at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/third_sector.
Cabinet Office - Office of the Third Sector
Futurebuilders - England
Capacitybuilders