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Government reallocates charity campaigning cash to Hardship Fund
By John Plummer, Third Sector Online, 13 November 2009
Campaign research programme abandoned without warning
The Office of the Third Sector has suddenly abandoned a scheme to give £750,000 to small campaigning charities.
The decision was announced today without consultation, three weeks after successful applicants to the campaign research programme had been told they would receive funds.
Applicants have now been told that the programme, which was intended to help small charities advocate for change, no longer exists.
The funding has instead been diverted to the Hardship Fund, a £16.7m fund announced in this year's Budget to support third sector organisations providing services for disadvantaged people.
Umbrella body the NCVO said it was investigating the legality of the decision, which it said appeared to breach the Compact.
The Compact, which outlines how the public and voluntary sectors should behave towards each other, says organisations should give 12 weeks notice of changes to funding agreements.
Chief executive Stuart Etherington said he was appalled by the decision.
"Making this decision at such a late stage has resulted in a complete waste of public funds and time for all involved," he said.
Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector, said: "It is clear to me that our priority at this time has to be to support the third sector during the recession. The decision does not alter the fact that the Government is committed to enabling campaigning in the third sector."
So far, 160 organisations have been awarded grants worth £14.5m through the Hardship Fund. The additional £750,000 will enable 15 extra organisations to receive funding.
Those organisations promised funding from the Campaigning Research Programme will be offered free campaign training and compensated for their application costs, which involved attending an interview.
Shadow charities minister Nick Hurd said: "Having wasted millions on launching v and Capacitybuilders, the Government now can't find thousands to deliver on its promises to campaign groups.
"As so often with this Government, good intentions have turned to dust."
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Kevin Curley, 13 November 2009, 16:07
NAVCA has written to Angela Smith today asking her to reconsider this decision. We believe the decision will be seen as bad grant making practice, sets a poor example to other parts of government and local government and undermines confidence in the Compact and OTS's leadership role. See our letter at www.navca.org.uk/news/crpcancellation[Report this post]
carl allen, 13 November 2009, 20:33
So when does the compact end and the contract begin is an issue that I have raised a number of times.[Report this post]
carl allen, 13 November 2009, 20:34
So when does the compact end and the contract begin is an issue that I have raised a number of times.[Report this post]
David Bagnall, 16 November 2009, 10:43
If the OTS is going to completely ignore basic Compact principles just a few days after Compact Week then why would any other government department, local authority, PCT, NDPB feel it should take any notice?[Report this post]
Elizabeth Balgobin, 16 November 2009, 13:56
Surely, once the decision that funding has been granted has been communicated, even if only verbally, a contract exists?[Report this post]
John Wilks, 16 November 2009, 15:10
I can see a Judicial Review on the horison. Steam roller the Third Sector, they wont complain, they are too good natured![Report this post]
Iain Brown, 16 November 2009, 22:09
I'm sorry, this just doesn't weigh up. Are you seriously telling me this decision is recession related? This is clealry a Minister under pressure from her superiors to ditch high risk campaigns due to potential political embarrassment. The Minister should be a supporter and advocate of the Sector, not a puppet to central government. If we are to believe the press release, then we have to seriously question the internal communication at OTS, why would such a decision be reached after offers of investment have been made? I support the response by NAVCA to call for this decision to be revoked, however, I doubt whether the party whip will allow that to happen. This is clearly a Number 10 decision, and is simply about politics - a crying shame. The Minister should of course do the honorable thing...remember that Minister...honour?[Report this post]
Brian Carr, 18 November 2009, 09:11
Quite apart from the fact that this decision flies in the face of Compact principles - and has led to wasted time in a number of voluntary organisations that are already under strain - it cuts at the heart of one of the most valuable elements of the third sector at a time of economic unrest: its ability to campaign for change and improvement in society. A disappointing and undermining decision - and one I hope will be seriously reconsidered...[Report this post]