The Department for Education has announced the 72 successful recipients of its voluntary, community and social enterprise National Prospectus grants from 2013 to 2015, worth a combined £47m.

The funding – the deadline for which closed on 11 January – is to implement national innovative projects and services to improve outcomes for children, young people and families, with a particular emphasis on early intervention and supporting the most disadvantaged.

In each of the 72 cases, the funding is split into one stream for 2013/14 and another for 2014/15. Some charities received grants for two or more separate programmes, with all fees marked as ‘subject to final negotiation and ongoing variation as appropriate’.

National Children’s Bureau receives most

The highest total amount of funding is going to the National Children’s Bureau, with £2.91m split across three projects. Next highest is Barnardo’s, with £2.03m across two. The recipient of the most money for just one project is the BeatBullying Group, with £1.52m.

The funding is specifically intended to contribute to policy thinking and delivery on the ground.

Other eligible criteria included an intention to develop and reform the care system and speed up the process of adoption, or to focus and develop local services to improve outcomes for vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.

The full list of recipients can be found on the Department of Education’s website here.

DfE names VCSE strategic partner

In addition, the DfE has also announced that the Children’s Partnership (a partnership between National Children’s Bureau and 4Children) has been awarded £600,000 per year for 2013 to 2015 to work with the Department to develop its strategic relationship with the VCSE sector.

In December 2012, the DfE announced that it was cutting its strategic partners programme from five organisations to one and its funding pot for charities from £120m to £60m.

The Department's previous strategic partners were 4Children, Barnardo’s, Children England, Council for Disabled Children and the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services (NCVYS).

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