The government is looking for a sector partner to deliver a £2.5m package intended to strengthen civil society organisations’ emergency preparedness.
Its three-year Civil Society Resilience Infrastructure Fund aims to enhance the role civil society organisations in England play in emergency preparedness, response and recovery.
By March 2029, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) aims for the fund to help civil society improve the resilience of communities and individuals who are disproportionately impacted during emergencies.
It also aims to help coordinate civil society activities during emergencies and enable the sector to collaborate with government on resilience work.
DCMS is seeking applications from either a single organisation or consortium by 31 May.
The successful bidder will deliver the funding between October 2026 and March 2029, with up to £450,000 available in the first financial year, then £970,000 and £1.08m available in subsequent years, respectively.
County’s charities call for long-term funding
Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Essex have published a joint call for long-term, flexible funding and greater partnership with local commissioners.
Published today by the Essex Community Foundation (ECF), the report calls for the sector to be recognised as “a full and equal partner, including engagement at a strategic level in planning and decision-making”.
It calls for formal mechanisms for co-design, joint commissioning, and consultation to be introduced, informed by local community insight to shape policy and service delivery.
The Joint Vision for Civil Society in Greater Essex has been backed by 37 civil society organisations in the county and six statutory partners.
Caroline Taylor, chief executive of ECF, said: “The sector must be recognised as a core partner from the start, bringing deep community knowledge and expertise to shape key decisions and support lasting change.”
