Find out more about accessing support from the Office of Third Sector

Following the publication of the �42.5 million action plan ‘Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises’, the Office of the Third Sector is holding 9 free regional roadshows for small and medium frontline third sector organisations to provide a practical understanding of how to access the support available.

The schemes included are the Real Help for Communities: Modernisation Fund, Real Help for Communities: Targeted Support Fund and Communitybuilders programme. The regional events will involve a combination of presentations, workshops, networking opportunities, a Q&A session and signposting to further support.

Each event will run for a full day starting with registration at 09:30 and finishing at 16:00 with lunch provided. Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis and are strictly limited to one person per organisation:

North East: Newcastle Upon Tyne, Newcastle United Football Club, Monday 20th April

Yorkshire & The Humber: Bradford, Cedar Court, Tuesday 21st April

West Midlands: Birmingham, Maple House, Monday 27th April

North West: Bolton, Bolton Holiday Inn, Tuesday 28th April

London: Central London, Abbey Community Centre, Thursday 7th May

South West: Bristol, Ramada, Bristol, Monday 11th May

East of England: Cambridge, Abington Hall, Monday 8th June

East Midlands: Leicester, Peepul Centre, Tuesday 9th June

South East: Epsom, Epsom Racecourse, Weds 24th June

Register for the roadshows: click here

Grants and loans to be offered as part of Government action plan

The Modernisation Fund was announced as part of the Government’s action plan ‘Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises’. The fund aims to help organisations become stronger and more resilient to the impact of the recession. It will comprise a mix of loan and grant funding.

Futurebuilders will offer loans (between �30,000 and �500,000) to larger third sector organisations with a turnover of �750,000 or more, mainly to support mergers and connected financial and capacity issues.
Applications will be invited from early April 2009 for a period of one year.

Capacitybuilders will be offering smaller grants to third sector organisations with a turnover of under �1m to help explore the benefits and meet the costs of collaboration, merger or restructuring. Funding will be targeted at organisations working in areas at most risk of being affected by the economic downturn and specialize in providing services of particular importance to communities during a recession, including family support, debt advice and counselling and tackling homelessness. Further information will be available at the end of March for applications in the summer 2009.