Jonathan Jenkins
Chief executive Jonathan Jenkins says the right is an opportunity for social ventures to grow by increasing their revenue
The Social Investment Business is to launch a new £11.5m support scheme designed to help voluntary organisations take over the running of public services in their communities.
The Community Rights Programme will run for three years and was announced yesterday, the same day that the Community Right to Challenge came into force.
The right enables organisations including voluntary groups, parish councils and local authorities to bid to take over the running of services in their communities, with the aim of making them more reflective of local needs. It was created by the Localism Act 2011.
The SIB will run the scheme with the chief executives body Acevo and the local umbrella body Locality.
Among the services available under the programme will be an advice line. There will also be grant funding designed to help groups at both the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages of a takeover bid.
Jonathan Jenkins, chief executive of the SIB, said: "The Right to Challenge presents a fantastic new opportunity for social ventures to grow through increased revenue, and therefore build their capacity to secure further investment – all with the goal of being able to reach more beneficiaries."
