The Directory of Social Change, Charity Finance Group, Children England, Navca and the Lloyds Bank Foundation have come together to launch the Grants for Good campaign, to promote government grants going to charities and voluntary groups.
The organisations are calling for a halt in the decline in grant funding by public bodies to charities and community groups. Data from NCVO’s Civil Society Almanac shows that grants from the public sector now make up only 5.5 per cent of charity sector income, a decline of over 60 per cent since 2004.
A summit to discuss the issues will be held in March.
The campaign, which was launched this morning at the CFG Community Accountancy Conference, aims to mobilise a movement in the voluntary and community sector in favour of grant funding, which can begin to influence commissioners and politicians.
Run by the DSC, the CFG, Children England and the Lloyds Bank Foundation, Grants for Goods is using their networks to gather examples of effective grant-making and build a case for commissioners to choose grants instead of contracts where a responsive local service is needed.
Debra Allcock-Tyler, chief executive of the Directory for Social Change, said that grants should been seen as a solution to the problems that budget cuts hope to address.
She said: “DSC has long expressed grave concerns about the rapid decline in grant funding from government for the voluntary sector. Grants are absolutely essential for charities and community groups because they can put people at the very centre of projects and services, allowing them to solve problems in their community. When local councils slash grants or dump them for hugely restrictive contracts they are simply shooting themselves in the foot. That isn’t a solution – it just means social problems will increase as vital services provided by charities deteriorate or collapse.
“This might seem like a curious time to launch this campaign – when we are staring down the barrel of more cuts and local government in particular is under huge financial pressure. But actually grants can be part of the solution. It’s high time to make the counter-argument and start campaigning for Grants for Good.”
Kathy Evans, chief executive of Children England, said: “Grants are more than just a sum of money to the charities and community groups that rely on them. They’re the lifeblood of thousands of local initiatives that families thrive on, from play schemes to employment support for disabled people. Where contracts tend to be short term and impose restrictive conditions on service delivery, grants empower people to deliver what works for their community – sustainably. We really can’t afford to lose them.”
Any voluntary or community sector organisation who has benefited from grant funding is being urged to share their stories with the campaign and to join the ‘Save our grants summit’. More information on the summit and the campaign is available here.
