Fighting poverty

Voluntary action has always played a vital role in fighting poverty. In recent years the grant aid that enables many charities and voluntary groups to do this work has come under threat.

Grants are an essential part of the local funding mix for local voluntary action and remain essential for thriving local communities. Grants can be flexible, lever extra support, keep a good service going or help an organisation develop its capacity to provide services. For many local organisations it is the only suitable funding.

We call upon local councils and primary care trusts to use grants to support local voluntary organisations that strengthen communities and overcome poverty and disadvantage.

NAVCA and its members will support local public bodies to develop grant programmes that support disadvantaged groups. We will help our members challenge local public bodies that fail to do so.