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Modernisation Fund

THIRD SECTOR organisations looking to become more resilient to combat the current economic climate are set to benefit from a new £16.5 million national government programme.

Organisations in South Yorkshire that provide services to those worst hit by the recession will be able to gain assistance from the Real Help for Communities Modernisation Fund in three key ways.

BURSARIES of £1,000 for organisations to pay for initial advice on how they can become more resilient and work more closely with others to increase their impact*.
GRANTS of up to £10k to help pay costs involved in moving towards collaboration or merger.
INTEREST FREE LOANS of between £30K and £500K for third sector organisations with existing plans for mergers and collaboration or other activities to help them prepare for difficult times.

The fund is aiming to encourage third sector organisations to consider options, identify need and then help towards the creation of definite partnerships between organisations looking to combat the current economic climate.

Organisations must be wholly or primarily engaged in one or more of the following areas:

Wellbeing and health.
Advice information and guidance.
Loss of income, training and skills.

Eligible organisations will have an average annual income of £150k to £750k.

Applications will be accepted between June 1st and July 17th.

For more information on how your organisation can benefit from this fund visit www.modernisationfund.org.uk.

Information is also available at Voluntary Action Barnsley's 'Coping with Recession' event on Tuesday, June 9 between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Eddie Street at VAB on 01226 320112 for further details.

* For the bursary fund which opens on June 1st, we are currently seeking advisors who may be able to work with successful bursary holders to help them consider all the options open to them. Any organisations interested in being included on the list of advisors should complete and return the Expression of Interest form by June 8th, 2009.

Download the Expression of Interest form

Download the Expression of Interest form guidelines sheet

The first successful bursary holders should have been selected by June 15th, and will be provided with the list of advisers from which they will select the most suitable one for their situation sometime after that date. They will then make direct contact with their selected advisers.

For more information on becoming an advisor call 0114 2424857.