Total government funding of voluntary and community organizations was 2.3 billion in 1997-98, and 3.3 billion in 2001-02 (at constant prices) - a rise of 31 per cent.
Source: Ian Mocroft and Meta Zimmeck, Central Government Funding of Voluntary and Community Organisations 1982/83 to 2001/02, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Nov
A report made a number of recommendations designed to strengthen the relationship between government and the voluntary and community sector in Northern Ireland. There was a need for government to invest in the voluntary and community sector, and provide more stable and longer-term funding.
Source: Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector, Investing Together, Department of Social Development/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9056 9216)
Links: Report (pdf) | NIE press release | NICVA press release
Date: 2004-Oct
The government published a framework for capacity building and infrastructure development in the voluntary and community sector.
Source: ChangeUp: Capacity building and infrastructure framework for the voluntary and community sector, Home Office (0870 000 1585) | House of Commons Hansard, Written Ministerial Statement 24 June 2004, columns 85-86WS, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Hansard | Home Office press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jun
The government published the responses to a consultation exercise on its plans for improved investment in the support infrastructure for voluntary and community organisations. It said most respondents had endorsed its plans.
Source: Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure: Summary of consultation responses, Home Office (0870 000 1585)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Home Office press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A report described the funding environment for voluntary sector bodies. It argued that there needed to be an entirely new approach to meeting the costs of voluntary organisations, including a much more mature understanding of the respective roles and responsibilities of different funders, and the ways in which they could help to meet core costs.
Source: Funding our Future: Core costs revisited, Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations (0845 345 8481)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Mar
A research report said that small voluntary organisations, particularly black/ethnic minority groups, found it difficult to access funding, especially core funding; and that the grants process took too long. Black/ethnic minority organisations felt they were unfairly treated by funders, who held stereotypical perceptions of the way in which they worked.
Source: Karen Chouhan and Clarence Lusane, Black Voluntary and Community Sector Funding: Its impact on civic engagement and capacity building, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 224
Date: 2004-Feb