STRATEGIC FUNDING REVIEW - YOUR ASSISTANCE REQUIRED
UNISON Scotland Community & Voluntary sector e-group
the 'Strategic Funding Review'. Matt has just secured at seat at this
table and will be at a meeting in December.
Please note the issue about support services has been developed with no
reference to us and they it seems are preparing for tenders to evaluate
the work - if that makes sense?
Any views can be communicated through the group or to Matt direct.
Thanks
Robert
STRATEGIC FUNDING REVIEW E-FORUM
1. Background
As you're probably aware the Scottish Executive, CoSLA and SCVO are
committed to working together through the Strategic Funding Review to
support the voluntary sector’s contribution to Scottish society.
The aim of the Review is to improve the accessibility, effectiveness
and sustainability of voluntary sector funding. The Strategic Funding
Review Joint Statement was published in May 2005 and we are now seeking
to make a shared commitment to work towards that vision through a
mutually agreed set of actions. Both documents can be accessed at
www.scvo.org.uk or www.scotland/gov.uk/viu.
2. Funders Forum
One of the first actions identified as a priority was to set up a
Funders Forum to bring together government, local authorities, wider
public sector bodies, lottery distributors and grant-making trusts to
take a strategic overview of the funding environment, to create space
for debate on approaches to funding, and to roll out existing good
practice. The Big Lottery Fund has agreed to Chair this Forum and the
first meeting was held on 27 September 2005. This first meeting
focused on setting out terms of reference and the future work plan. It
also included discussion of challenging and interesting funding issues,
such as the importance of retaining diversity in the funding landscape,
the potential shift to outcome funding, attitude to risk, bureaucracy
in systems, and the importance of learning from, and working
collaboratively with each other as appropriate. If you wish to know
more about the Forum then please let me know. The next Forum meeting
is to be held on 13 December and will discuss outcome funding and the
investor model: the potential of a long-term shift from grant giving to
investing and the role that outcome funding can play. Information from
this meeting will be provided in due course.
3. E-Forum (Quarterly updates)
Parallel to the Funders Forum, partners agreed that an E-Forum should
be set up in order to provide a means to: communicate information on
progress relating to SFR implementation; engage with relevant
stakeholders in implementing the action plan; and provide a mechanism
to monitor changes across Scotland. I have identified you as a
relevant stakeholder and by sending this e-mail to you I hope to:
establish a communication process which is widely accessible.
ensure that the right people are kept informed of progress and
relevant information.
share good practice in voluntary sector funding
show-case and recognise contribution of specific
initiatives/organisations
provide a networking opportunity to share experiences and discuss
common issues
access expert advice on particular initiatives, areas of good
practice, and gaps in delivery
provide a mechanism for monitoring implementation of the SFR
To ensure this method of communication is as useful as possible, I'd
appreciate any views on the above aims.
4. Independent Review of Support Services
Another action, identified by partners as an early priority is to
undertake an independent review of support services available to the
voluntary sector. The aim of this Review is to ensure that the needs
of voluntary organisations (including marginalised groups) are met by
effective support available at national and local level, structured for
maximum efficiency, offering provision which is accessible to all,
while reflecting and promoting diversity, and which is sustainably
funded. It is also to ensure the efficient use of public funds and
value for money. An outline specification is currently being drafted
by the Scottish Executive, SCVO and CoSLA, and further details will be
available in due course.
5. Good Practice for funding the voluntary sector
The Voluntary Issues Unit is also in the process of developing good
practice guidance for Scottish Executive funding of the voluntary
sector. A series of internal workshops is underway, targeting
officials involved in grant schemes across Executive departments. The
aim of the workshops is to promote a better understanding of good
practice, identify replicable examples of best practice, clarify the
flexibility available for practice improvement within government
accountancy rules, and identify specific actions which can overcome
barriers to best practice. Following these workshops, draft guidance
will be developed and internal and external stakeholders will be
invited to give their views. Watch this space for further information!
6. Next Steps
I hope you have found the 1st edition of this e-forum communication
helpful. However, if you no longer wish to receive further E-Forum
information, then please let me know and I'll remove you from my
database of contacts. If you know of others who would be interested in
being added to the distribution, then again please let me know and
please feel free to pass this on.
If there are any particular issues regarding the SFR that you would
like to have an update on, I would welcome your suggestions and will
endeavour to provide it within future updates. This edition aimed to
provide an update on where we are with the Strategic Funding Review -
we hope that future editions will involve a 2-way process where you can
have your views heard too!
Many thanks
Stephanie Bow
Voluntary Issues Unit