[WiLT] fw. EHRC to consult on permanent funding programme

[WiL Admin]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "grants" <grants at equalityhumanrights.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 5:29 PM
Subject: FW: Commission to consult on permanent funding programme


Commission to consult on permanent funding programme
 30th September 2008

The Commission today announced that it will embark on a public
consultation to determine the future of its permanent funding
programme. The Commission hopes to move to a flexible funding model
that is more closely linked to its emerging strategic priorities.

When the Commission opened its doors in October 2007, its board
recognised that the grants programme is a powerful tool to work with
and through the voluntary and community sector to deliver change at
the local, regional and national level. The board put in place an
interim programme, and 285 organisations across England, Scotland and
Wales benefitted from over £10 million in funding for time limited,
year-long projects that will end in April 2009.

While the Commission recognises the good work of the interim
beneficiaries, taken as a whole the Commission is concerned that its
current approach to grant-making will not produce the desired results
in the longer-term, as it is not sufficiently tied to the Commission's
emerging strategic priorities. For example, would moving to a
three-year funding model prove more effective than the one year model
of the interim programme?

The Commission's board has, therefore, taken the decision to defer the
launch of the next grants programme for 6 months (April 2009-September
2009) in order to allow for a full public consultation on the
permanent grants programme that is developed alongside the
Commission's emerging 3 year programme of strategic priorities. The
Commission will announce the launch date for the new funding programme
in May 2009.

The Commission is arranging public consultation events in each English
region and in Scotland and Wales, which will coincide with the
consultation of its three year strategic priorities. The Commission
welcomes written feedback and the consultation questionnaire will be
made available in a variety of formats at the end of October 2008.

The announcement will have important implications for current and
prospective grants recipients. The Commission recognizes the 6-month
break will be of interest to many current and prospective grants
recipients. The Commission has written to all current grants
recipients that provide legal case services to inform them that it
will make arrangements with them to ensure individuals taking cases
are not affected.

Ends

For media enquiries contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Media Office on 02031170255, out of hours 07767272818.

Prospective grants recipients with specific questions about the grants
programme are asked to contact the Commission's Wales and Scotland
offices for further information.  Callers in England should contact
the Helpline:
· Steve Bennett (Wales) - 0124 836 0582.
· Douglas Guest (Scotland) and Fiona McLeod 0141 228 5974 and 0131 550
0432
· England Helpline - 0845 604 6610 (main number), 0845 604 6620
(textphone)

Notes to Editors

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is a statutory body
established under the Equality Act 2006, which took over the
responsibilities of Commission for Racial Equality, Disability Rights
Commission and Equal Opportunities Commission.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is the independent advocate
for equality and human rights in Britain. It aims to reduce
inequality, eliminate discrimination, strengthen good relations
between people, and promote and protect human rights.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission enforces equality legislation
on age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sexual
orientation or transgender status, and encourage compliance with the
Human Rights Act. It also gives advice and guidance to businesses, the
voluntary and public sectors, and to individuals.


The Commission has launched Home Front: What do mums and dads need to
make life work? - an online survey about the needs of mothers and
fathers balancing paid work and caring - as part of its Working Better
initiative.

Find out more about how you can get involved and make a difference by
visiting: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/workingbetter

Our vision
A society built on fairness and respect. People confident in all
aspects of their diversity.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission was established by the
Equality Act 2006 as the Commission for Equality and Human Rights.