Modernisation Fund recipients finally announced

The Modernisation Fund aims to help the voluntary and community sector become more efficient and sustainable in the face of increased social and economic changes and funding challenges.

The announcement of nine funded projects has taken over ten months since the programme closed to applications on 10 January 2006. A further ten contracts are in the final stages of negotiation and will be agreed over the next few weeks.

A further £1m available in the Budget

The total value of these nineteen contracts is just over £2 million, out of the total budget of £3 million for the revenue programme. Following an evaluation of the use of this first £2 million, DSD will announce how the remaining money will be spent.

Minister congratulations successful projects

David Hanson MP, Minister for Social Development, congratulated the successful organisations on receiving grants totalling just over £2million. Minister Hanson said: “The Voluntary and Community Sector in Northern Ireland has a proven track record of improving the lives of people here by tackling social need and disadvantage.

“These organisations help individuals and communities to make better life choices and access the opportunities that a prospering Northern Ireland can now provide. They give support to some of the most disadvantaged in our society and for those in greatest need; very often increasing the range, impact and value of our Public Services.

"However, there are considerable challenges ahead for the sector. The ever increasing calls on public money mean that the Government must make sure that that money is spent well. We are becoming more and more focussed on the results being achieved by the sector and its ability to deliver real benefits to the people of Northern Ireland.

"DSD, through the Modernisation Fund, wants to help the sector become more sustainable so it can successfully face up to these challenges and continue to deliver excellent services to our community, in a more efficient manner.

"We also want to see real partnership and real sharing of services and resources across the community, including across the sectarian and political divides. The Voluntary and Community Sector has a critical role to play in building a Shared Future here in Northern Ireland and the Modernisation Fund is designed to help it to adjust successfully to the changing and more challenging funding environment in which it now operates.”

The revenue programme of the Modernisation Fund was launched in November 2005. This announcement marks the agreement of contracts for the funding of nine projects. Contracts for funding have been agreed with the following organisations:

In its report ‘Investing Together, the Task Force on Resourcing the Voluntary and Community Sector, identified the need for resources to help promote modernisation and change within the voluntary and community sector and to enhance the capacity of the sector to deliver services.

Positive Steps’, the government’s response to the Task Force report, recognised the significant role of the voluntary and community sector in delivering services and in developing stronger and more cohesive communities. It also made clear that action is needed to improve the competitiveness of the sector through increased efficiencies by, for example, addressing duplication and overlap so that more resources can be directed to delivering services.

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