Launch of new partnership between the voluntary and public sectors through Futurebuilders (05/05/2004)

27.04.2006

5th May 10am to 1pm – Emmanuel Centre, Westminster

Richard Gutch, the Chief Executive of Futurebuilders, will today tell one thousand delegates from the voluntary and public sectors how and when voluntary and community organisations can apply for funding from the new £125 million Futurebuilders government investment fund.

At a Westminster launch with the Home Secretary, Mr Gutch said: “I’m delighted to be able to announce to the sector today that Futurebuilders will be open for its first applications on 5th July. Over the next three years we are hoping to invest in around 250 organisations with investments ranging from around £30,000 to several million, as well as providing development grants of around £10,000 to a number of other applicants. 

The Futurebuilders website which goes live today will tell people how to go about it. We will be able to give you more detailed information about our Investment Plan on 5th July, when we open for applications.

We hope to learn lessons from the investments we make so that we can demonstrate how we can all work to improve public service delivery in the future. This is an exciting day for Futurebuilders and one the sector itself should take a great deal of pride in. This is a coming of age for Futurebuilders.“

The Secretary of State for the Home Office, the Rt Hon David Blunkett MP said: “Voluntary and community organisations already add a great deal of value to the delivery of public services. They have a profound knowledge of their local communities and an ability to connect with people who are marginalised.

Providing appropriate public services to those who need them is vital to building strong, active communities. By providing capital investment and development funding, Futurebuilders will enable the voluntary and community sector to play its role. It will encourage excellence by funding and promoting the best ideas.

Futurebuilders is an exciting partnership that will bring about a real change in the way we deliver public services."     

Futurebuilders is a new £125 million government investment fund being managed by a consortium from the voluntary sector. It will provide a mix of grants, loans, and capacity building ie support, training and advice, to the sector.

Futurebuilders will work to five themes which were set by government after consultation with the sector. These are:

  • Community cohesion
  • Crime
  • Education and learning
  • Health and social care
  • Support for children and young people

Geraldine Peacock, the interim Chair of Futurebuilders said: “We want to assist the sector to deliver better services in partnership with sections of the community who deserve to see an improvement in their services.   Futurebuilders will be creating a culture of sustainability to ensure that the services endure long term.

This investment fund has been established to demonstrate that the sector can move from a dependency culture based on short-term grants and contracts to investment in long term sustainable funding. The sector has been a dynamic force in setting it up and many people have taken part in the consultations we have had.

As one of the pioneers on the Futurebuilders journey I am proud to see it pass this important milestone today. It represents a real achievement for the voluntary and community sector and will lift their sights to new horizons.  I want to thank the people from government and the sector who have worked hard to see their vision realised here today and who are beginning a new era with us. ”

The Consortium members include, the lead partner Charity Bank, Unity Trust Bank, The National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Northern Rock Foundation.

The Minister for the Voluntary Sector, Fiona Mactaggart said: "The challenge for voluntary and community organisations is to become more independent and self-sustaining. Futurebuilders is an important step in that direction, sowing the seed for an expansion in the scale and scope of public service delivery by the voluntary and community sector.

Futurebuilders will encourage a strong partnership between Government and the voluntary and community sector that will make a real difference to people's day to day experience of public services."
 
Todays event has been organised by fundraising consultancy, Action Planning to brief those organisations intending to submit applications to Futurebuilders.  Photographs and a report of the event will be available immediately from them contact David Senior, 07710 313749 or www.actionplanning.co.uk.

For more information please contact Gerard Silverstone on 07782212714

Notes:

1. Futurebuilders is a £125m investment fund to strengthen the contribution of voluntary and community organisations, including social enterprises, to public service delivery in the key areas of health and social care; crime; community cohesion; education and learning; and services for children and young people.

2. The responsibility for Futurebuilders is now with the Active Communities Directorate in the Home Office. www.homeoffice.gov.uk/

3. Futurebuilders will be open for applications on 5 July. The first meeting of the Investment Committee will take place as soon as it has some recommended investments to consider.  Futurebuilders aims to make some early investments in the summer if possible.

4. More information is available on the Futurebuilders website www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk.

5. The Consortium members are:

THE CHARITY BANK LIMITED (CHARITY BANK)

  • only UK bank which is also a general charity
  • has lent over £20 million to voluntary and community organisations in every region of the UK

UNITY TRUST BANK (UNITY TRUST)

  • fastest growing bank in the voluntary sector
  • specialises in providing innovative lending products for the sector
  • based in Birmingham; has its roots within the wider social economy.

THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS (NCVO)
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is the umbrella body for the voluntary sector in England, with sister councils in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  NCVO has a growing membership of over 3,500 voluntary organisations, ranging from large national bodies to community groups, volunteer bureaux, and development agencies working at a local level. Its Sustainable Funding Project, which is undertaking outreach and development work for Futurebuilders, has an excellent track record of enabling organisations to explore new ways of funding their work.

NORTHERN ROCK FOUNDATION

  • leading regional foundation, with headquarters in Newcastle, planning to spend over £22m in 2004
  • funded entirely by an annual donation of 5% of Northern Rock plc’s profits
  • works to assist disadvantaged people in the North East of England and Cumbria, through grants, loans and training for not for profit organisations.

Ends.

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