Wolverhampton City Council has established the £273,000 Innovate to Save Fund in order to help charities and Third Sector organisations become more self sufficient and reduce their dependency on council funding.
Any groups based in Wolverhampton which currently receive grants from, or that are delivering services for, the city council are being invited to apply for a share of the money. Special information sessions are being held next Monday and Tuesday (19 and 20 August, 2013) to discuss prospective bids and appointments can be reserved in advance by calling 01902 554067.
Councillor Elias Mattu, Wolverhampton City Council's Cabinet Member for Leisure and Communities, said: "We first launched the Innovate to Save Fund last year and it proved very successful, so it's really good news for the voluntary sector that they are available again this year.
"I want to urge all those voluntary and community sector organisations who get a council grant or that are delivering a service under contract over the next couple of years to bid to the fund - and to find out more by coming along to the special information sessions next week."
He added: "The city council values the role that the voluntary and community sector plays in supporting the people of Wolverhampton and we are aware that the availability of grants, crucial for the delivery of services to some of the most vulnerable people, is becoming increasingly limited in the current economic climate.
"We hope this fund will enable organisations to become more self sufficient and reduce their dependency on council funding by introducing new ways of working or redesigning current service delivery."
Eligible organisations are invited to submit innovative business proposals that will enable them to permanently reduce their grant or contract price.
In order to bid for funds, voluntary and community sector organisations will need to show how the grant would help them become more sufficient, efficient and effective, while achieving permanent savings in their future budgets.
Collaborative bids involving more than 1 voluntary or community sector organisation are particularly encouraged. Priority will be given to proposals that scope, develop or deliver organisational mergers and, depending on the scale of savings identified, support may be available for more than 1 year.
Further details, including the fund criteria and an application form, are available at Type=links;Linkid=2163;Title=Innovate to Save;Target=_blank; or from Wolverhampton City Council's Community Initiatives team, either by calling 01902 554067 or emailing community.initiatives@wolverhampton.gov.uk. The closing date for applications is Friday 13 September, 2013.
- released: Tuesday 13 August, 2013