£4m govt cash for third sector ”has been delayed”
A £4 million fund which was announced by the Office for the Third Sector more than 12 months ago has still not been delivered and could face further delays.
It was announced in March last year in the government’’s Manifesto for Change, however, few details have so far been released and those looking for jobs in the public sector may have to wait a little longer before it is made clear how this fund will be fully implemented.
Dame Elisabeth Hoodless, executive director of volunteering charity CSV, told Third Sector: "The sector needs this money urgently. The number of volunteers is rising rapidly as unemployment increases and we need to ensure they are managed efficiently."
Meanwhile, the Department of Health has announced a new £5.5 million package to strengthen the links between itself and third sector organisations.
The Strategic Partner Programme has been designed to help offer training to NHS professionals and voluntary workers on how they can best work together to improve health services in the UK.
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London Marathon raises record amount for charities
This year’’s Flora London Marathon has raised a record amount for charities.
Figures compiled by Justgiving have shown that £22.4 million was raised in 2009, according to Third Sector.
A spokesperson for the organisation noted, however, that the average donation fell this year from £32 in 2008 to £29.50, perhaps as a result of the continuing tightening of belts during the economic downturn.
Managing director of Justgiving Anne-Marie Huby said: "Despite the economic climate, the incredible generosity of the British public continues to amaze. Average gifts are down on last year, but many more people are giving than ever before."
In related news, figures compiled by YouthNet have shown that the number of people applying for volunteer roles with UK charities has increased by 115 per cent in the last 12 months, good news for those in not for profit recruitment.
Fiona Dawe, chief executive of the organisation, said that more people are looking to work in the third sector in order to build on their skills during this period of employment uncertainty and a lack of job security.
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DoH announces £5.5m third sector initiative
The Department of Health (DoH) has launched a new £5.5 million initiative designed to strengthen its links with the third sector.
Working alongside a number of charitable organisations, such as Age Concern, the Men’’s Health Forum and the Race Equality Foundation, the DoH is looking to raise awareness of health inequalities and aims to develop stronger links between the NHS and third sector organisations, news that could be of interest to those looking for jobs in the public sector.
"The Strategic Partner Programme will play a vital role in supporting and engaging third sector organisations to work in partnership with the NHS, to deliver better health and social care services for everyone," commented care services minister Phil Hope.
Meanwhile, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling last week announced a new £20 million hardship grant for those affected by the economic downturn as part of the Budget.
The announcement follows the recent £42.5 million rescue package for the third sector which was unveiled in February.
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Volunteering ”rising in popularity”
Britons are increasingly looking to volunteer, new research shows.
Figures released by YouNet reveal that the numbers of people applying for volunteering opportunities rose by some 115 per cent between 2007 and 2008.
And such a trend has continued into 2009, with 40,143 and 38,952 applications made this February and January respectively, around double that recorded during the same months last year.
Fiona Dawe, chief executive of YouthNet, states: "More and more people are recognising volunteering as a valuable way to build on skills and improve chances in a turbulent job market."
She adds that such a drive in volunteers is also welcome news for those working for charities and other organisations which will be dependent on volunteers as the financial crisis rumbles on.
Research carried out by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations earlier this year revealed there has been a 24 per cent rise in the number of people applying for third sector jobs during the past decade.
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Hardship fund ”offers welcome boost to third sector”
The establishment of a multimillion pound fund will prove to be of assistance to those with third sector jobs.
A number of industry leaders have welcomed moves made by Alistair Darling, Chancellor of the Exchequer, in this week’’s Budget, which has seen a £20 million hardship grant being set up to deliver front-line services for those Britons who have been affected by the ongoing economic crisis.
"We are happy that it is going [to] be in grants and that it’’s for existing organisations and the work they are doing, rather than trying to create new, merged organisations," Jay Kennedy, policy officer for the Directory of Social Change, tells ThirdSector.co.uk.
Meanwhile, Steve Johnson, chief executive of Advice UK, claims that any additional funding has to be welcome given the fact that many charities are finding their budgets coming under "extreme pressure".
The latest fund comes on top of the government’’s £42.5 million action plan for the third sector which was announced earlier this year.
Such news comes after recent research by the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action revealed some 83 per cent councils for voluntary service (CVS) believe the funding environment for small and medium-sized bodies has become more difficult since the onset of the crisis.
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