futurebuilders update

The futurebuilders fund is a £125 million Government fund, aimed at supporting voluntary and community groups that provide services in the five key areas: crime, community cohesion, health and social care, support for children and young people and education and learning.

The fund is run by a voluntary consortium of organisations and plans to invest in around 250 organisations to enable them to deliver between public services. It will also provide development grants of around £10,000 to a number of other applicants. Funding won't just be given in the traditional format of grants, but will also provide a range of loans and capacity building, such as support, training or advice.

Although the fund will be open for applications from 5th July onwards the actual application form and final criteria aren't yet available. Don't worry, however, because applications will be dealt with in a series of application 'windows'. The first one will start on 5th July 2004 and will close on 31st October 2004, and the second window will run from March 2005 to July 2005. It's expected that around 35% of the 'investments' will be made during the first window, and about 60% in the second. Most applications won't be processed until the first application window has closed on 31st October.

The consortium has produced a futurebuilders website which includes all the latest information, including a section on frequently asked questions. It also informs organisations what they could be doing now to get ready to apply. This might include collecting evidence about the need for the project, discussing the scheme with the organisation's trustees or management committees, talking to the relevant public sector agency to see whether it fits with their priorities, identifying what kind of support will be needed to carry out the scheme and estimating the project's full cost.

For more information visit the futurebuilders website at
www.futurebuilders-england.org.uk

(from Network News, July/August 2004)