Skills - Third Sector
Statutory funding for skills body expires at the end of this month, but no decision has yet been made on extending it
The future of Skills – Third Sector, whose funding is due to expire at the end of the month, remains unclear.
Neither the sector skills body nor its two government funders can confirm whether the organisation will have its funding renewed.
The charity, which was founded in 2008 to improve the skills of the voluntary sector workforce, is funded by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills, a non-departmental public body, and the Office for Civil Society in the Cabinet Office.
Both funders pledged £250,000 for the current financial year, but did not guarantee financial support beyond the end of March.
A spokeswoman for the commission said the charity had applied for further funding from its Growth and Innovation Fund and a decision would be made on the bid later this month.
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: "Discussions with Skills – Third Sector are ongoing. A decision on funding will be finalised soon."
A spokeswoman for Skills – Third Sector said she could not comment on the matter.
Communities and Local Government’s Best Value Statutory Guidance, published last September and applicable to all government bodies, says voluntary organisations should receive at least three months’ notice of funding cuts.
