The Local
Grants Forum, a partnership of national organisations which
campaign to protect grants for the local third sector, has today
(Monday 26 January) officially launched
'Defending Local
Grants', an easy to read guide that shows where you can find
the resources you need to defend grant funding locally. The amount
of grant funding made available by local authorities has fallen
since 2001 and the economic recession threatens to exacerbate this
problem. Already in Gloucester and Hastings, the local authority
has proposed cuts to the local third sector.
The guide is designed to help local groups convince councillors,
commissioning officers and procurement professionals that grants
should continue to be used to fund local organisations and groups.
It allows local groups to quote government guidance which supports
use of grants; challenge the myth that grants are no longer
possible because of competition law and European regulations; and
explain what grants can achieve for local communities that
contracts cannot.
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive of NAVCA and a leading member of
the Local Grants Forum said:
"Research from the Finance Hub last year showed that local
authority grant funding fell by 13% in just three years. With an
economic recession and tighter budgets we are worried that grant
funding will suffer even more as local authorities make budget
cuts, even though grant funding is vital to many of the groups that
support communities who suffer most in a downturn. This includes
groups providing debt advice, credit unions and organisations that
help get people get back into employment.
"That's why the Local Grants Forum has produced this guide now.
We want to equip local groups with the resources and evidence they
need to argue the case for grant funding. Local grants are vital
for a healthy third sector and we must defend
them."