The Westminster Briefing Third Sector Conference 2008
TPP Law recently sponsored and exhibited at the Westminster Briefing Third Sector
Conference 2008 – A Thriving and Independent Third Sector: New Opportunities and
New Challenges which was held in London on 20 November 2008.
Kevin Brennan, Minister for the Third Sector announced that the Government are investing
more than £515 million in Third Sector programmes to support community organisations
across the country. However delegates expressed real concern over access to funding.
In response Juliet Mountford, Deputy Director of the Office of the Third Sector,
emphasised the Government’s commitment to make three-year funding the norm rather
than the exception and pointed to the availability of the Grassroots Grants programme.
The session on Access to Funding, Finance and Support outlined the investment and
funding opportunities available to Third Sector organisations. The importance of
being able to produce a clear, measurable, outcome-based business plan to funders
was emphasised. Futurebuilders also suggested that capability building would be
an increasing focus of their investment in the Third Sector.
The difficult economic situation was recognised by the majority of speakers but it was also suggested that Third Sector organisations were in a good position to take advantage of the new opportunities that may present themselves.
The session on the Third Sector and Local Government: Building partnerships and
improving engagement, focused on the importance of creating successful partnerships.
NCVO argued that the voluntary sector is a critical partner at local level and a
commitment to fair funding, proper partnerships and engagement was more important
than ever. The Commission for the Compact announced that new guidance on commissioning
which will update the Compact will be available shortly on its website. NAVCA reported
on the effect of the LAA on local Third Sector organisations, with 63% of respondents
finding it positive and 37% finding it negative.
An interactive voting system was used to gather the delegates’ responses to a number
of
questions on the key issues that were discussed at the event. |
For More Information Contact:
Mark Johnson
TPP Law Limited
53 Great Suffolk Street
London SE1 ODB
t 020 7620 0888
f 020 7620 0778
e info@tpplaw.co.uk
Email:
Mark
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