By Paul McGill from NICVA
Published on 18 Jul 2007
NICVA chief executive Seamus McAleavey has welcomed a new funding scheme for voluntary and community groups in Northern Ireland. He was commenting on the invitation by Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie for applications to a £15 million Modernisation Fund.
It is part of a package worth £18 million to help the sector to modernise and prepare itself for the future. The grants available will range from £20,000 to £1.5 million and are designed to provide equipment and improve facilities.
Mr McAleavey said:
"These additional monies have been eagerly awaited by the voluntary and community sector. I look forward to seeing this considerable investment delivering positive changes that enable the sector to continue to provide much needed support to the people in Northern Ireland."
Encouraging applications for the funding, Minister Ritchie said:
"Voluntary and community groups have a key role to play in Northern Ireland and many of the most vulnerable people in our community rely on them for a range of services. I want to ensure that such groups have the best possible facilities and equipment and continue to provide a first class service with first class facilities.
"I see this fund as an excellent opportunity to reinvigorate the sector and equip it for whatever challenges lie ahead. Society and the public sector are changing and the voluntary and community sector will have to adapt to changing circumstances.
"This investment will enable it to do so and help it continue to be a positive and progressive influence for the community throughout Northern Ireland. I know the sector has been eagerly awaiting this fund and I look forward to receiving their proposals."
The Modernisation Fund
The Modernisation Fund places particular emphasis on providing equipment and facilities for young people in the most disadvantaged areas, helping improve access to services for people with disabilities and enhancing the delivery of services.
Support is also available for large scale infrastructure projects which encourage collaboration and resource sharing as a model for modernisation.
The new fund has its origins in the Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector, which identified the need for resources to help promote modernisation and change in the voluntary and community sector and to enhance the capacity of the sector to deliver services.
A Modernisation Fund Revenue Programme of £3 million was established and £2m of this has already been allocated.
Objectives of the Modernisation Fund Capital Programme
A further £15 million fund is now available to support capital projects. Its objectives include activities which improve:
- partnership and collaboration;
- income generation and/or cost reduction;
- improved access to services, especially for people with a disability;
- good relations within and between communities;
- the delivery of services and facilities in support of disadvantaged children and young people (0-24 years).
Funding streams
There are three funding streams for the £15 million:
- Pilot Infrastructure Scheme (£9 million): supporting applications with a grant value of between £300,000 and £1.5 million per project.
- Community Facilities Improvement Scheme (£3 million): to improve facilities to allow better service delivery and access to services.
- Small Capital Grants Scheme (£3 million): to undertake minor works or purchase assets in order to improve the sector’s ability to deliver a better service to the community. The individual project value is between £20,000 and £100,000.
More information
Application form
Modernisation Fund Capital Programme Application
(Word document)
Information days will be held during July and August - we will have details of these on CommunityNI as soon as we receive the confirmed details.
The programme will be open to applications until mid October. Application forms can be downloaded from DSD website or contact:
Voluntary and Community Unit
Department for Social Development
Lighthouse Building
1 Cromac Place
Gasworks Business Park
Ormeau Road
Belfast BT7 2JB
t: 028 9082 9372
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