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Start up fundingIt is likely that any organisations thinking of developing a Consortium will need to be able to invest resources from their own coffers in the developmental stage prior to attracting funding for further development work. Organisations involved in developing Consortia should consider from the outset, if they are in a position to do so, and may need to have the support of their governing body to be potentially working outside of their primary charitable objective. In some circumstances, individual organisations have had to for example, change their constitutions to allow them to work as part of a consortia which is wider than their own geographical area of operation. Making a case for funding the VCS learning InfrastructureSeveral Government strategies acknowledge the importance of the VCO having an infrastructure to support skills and workforce development in the sector. They further acknowledge that Consortia are a useful mechanism supporting the achievement of a number of Government targets.
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Read the Working Together Strategy on the LSC
website It is useful for Consortia to familiarise themselves with these strategies in order to illustrate how they (Consortia), can play a key role in implementing those strategies. Prior research into, for example, the size and scope of VCS involvement in learning, and existing anecdotal evidence might help to secure funding for further research and potentially funding to bring partners together. Who might fund the development of ConsortiaIt is quite unlikely that VCOs will get funding to develop the consortia. However, it is more likely that Emerging Consortia will attract fund to explore particular aspects of consortia work. This might include funding for research into the workforce development activities and needs within the sector, or consultation on the feasibility and structure of developing a Consortia. > Pulling together a partnership Funding for researchEstablished Consortia have, on the whole, found the easiest way of kick starting the process of developing a Consortia is to secure funding for mapping and research activities. Research results usually provide a body of evidence as to the needs, as well as data on the VCS workforce. This evidence proves useful in arguing the case for additional funding of the Consortia and its activities.
Sustainable fundingIncreasingly, funders are less interested in funding organisations and more interested in funding the work they actually deliver. What emerges is a patchwork of funding. ACEVO (the Association of Chief Officers of Voluntary Organisations) have produced a model based on this. It can be summarised as follows:
In order to secure the survival of the whole organisation core costs have to built in to any funding bids. This is known as full cost recovery, and the Government are particularly keen to see this model for funding VCOs, adopted by those issuing contracts to the sector. The sustainability of Consortia is reliant in the main, on a mixture of project funding, drawing down mainstream funding through contracts, whether directly or through franchise models, grants and trust funding and self generated income. Funding optionsThere a several potential funding sources, dependant upon the needs of the organisation and the type of engagement sought. 1. Mainstream LSC Funding
2. LSC Discretionary Funding SourcesThere are a number of streams to bid for.
3. Other funding sourcesThere is a wide range of other funding sources available for development work and, sometimes, service delivery. Most of these funds are time limited and so may create problems of sustainability. They are, however, important in development and dealing with what are seen as urgent and immediate needs. The sources include:
Reporting to fundersThe systems, which need to be put in place to report to funders, especially those asked for by the LSC can be onerous. Consortia will need to be confident that they are able to do so. The picture of what might be asked for is an inconsistent one. The LSC might ask for a range of different systems for monitoring and evaluation to be put in place, dependant on what is being delivered, on what basis the funding is given. |
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