UK: Government announced Grassroots Grants a £130m community funding programme

The UK Government has announced ?Grassroots Grants? a £130m (182m euro) community funding programme, which will be run by the Community Development Foundation, an organisation which aims to bring together communites leaders to coordinate the economic and community development activities.

The £130m fund will be avilable from 2008-2011 and aims to strengthen the community sector.
The fund will be divided into two parts: £80m (112m euro) will be used to make small grants for community organisations and a new £50m (70m euro) endowments fund will be established to help local foundations attract match funding from the private sector, to be invested as future funding for nearby community groups.

Minister for the Third Sector, Phil Hope, said:
?The allocation of £130 million to this scheme reflects the Government?s recognition of the vital role community organisations play in strengthening communities.
?Community-based organisations are at the very root of civil renewal, bringing local people together and empowering them to meet local needs or transform local environments. Yet we know they often struggle to gain finance, placing enormous constraints on their ability to operate. That?s why Grassroots Grants is aimed at improving the funding available to the very smallest of community organisations.
The Community Development Foundation has stressed that existing regional grant-givers are welcome to apply to be local funding partners.
Alison Seabrooke, Chief Executive of the Community Development Foundation, said:

?Community Development Foundation is delighted to be the national lead partner appointed to oversee and evaluate Grassroots Grants on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office.
?At a local level grassroots grants will support local community based activity in small voluntary and community groups through the small grants programme, whilst also building the capacity of local funding partners and sustaining small grant giving through the endowment programme.

www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector