| Published | 29 October 2008 |
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Communities Secretary Hazel Blears will today invite third sector organisations working toward empowerment across the country to apply for support through the £7.5m Empowerment Fund.
Speaking at the ACEVO conference today Blears will underline the vital and unique role that charities, community and voluntary groups and social enterprises can play in responding to people's needs, driving change in communities and getting more local people more involved.
In the current financial situation the role of the third sector is even more indispensable. Organisations across the country are already helping people to find help with mortgage payments and with fuel costs. She will say that "getting through the tough times ahead and coming through the other side in good shape calls for action from more than government alone".
The purpose of the Empowerment Fund is to give financial assistance to 20-25 eligible third sector organisations and make the most of their potential in supporting empowered communities.
The Empowerment Fund will provide three year grants for community empowerment organisations operating across England. The security of a three year fund will help these organisations plan ahead with confidence and we will be looking for them to show how they will make effective use of financial assistance from the Fund to do yet more.
Hazel Blears, Secretary of State for Communities, will say:
"Charitable and voluntary services are some of the best promoters of community empowerment, offering people real opportunities for local involvement and finding new and innovative ways of way of giving people a voice, a say, and a stake in the choices that make a difference to their lives.
"The three-year Empowerment Fund is about acknowledging that key role and giving the support these organisations need to continue to strengthening and empowering their local communities however they see fit, from community involvement in planning and community leadership, to social enterprise and entrepreneurship."
The £7.5m Fund, which will run from 2009-2012 will be divided between 20-25 organisations with either £250,000 or £500,000 grants over three years.
Communities in Control sets out a range of action to find tomorrow's leaders from within communities; help local people understand how they can make their voice heard; make sure that people feel that the town hall is theirs and they can have a say on how services like libraries and social care are delivered and make the best use of new technology such as internet sites to rally people behind their cause and into action.
The Government first announced plans for the Empowerment Fund in July in the White Paper, Communities in Control: real people, real power. Third sector organisations interested in finding out more about the fund, the criteria to apply, and the selection process can obtain more information from at www.communities.gov.uk
1. The Empowerment fund will grant money to 20-25 third sector organisations who can help deliver on the key themes set out in the White Paper, Communities in Control: real people, real power. Themes for delivery could include:
2. 'The Empowerment Fund: Consultation on proposals for funding third sector organisations to empower communities across England' sought views on a draft prospectus of the Fund. This closed on 30 September 2008.
3. The consultation received a strong response, which provided helped inform the Government's consideration on how to proceed with the Empowerment Fund. The Summary of Consultation Responses document can be found on the Communities and Local Government website.
4. Key changes from the consultation include a longer application timetable, more flexible criteria on eligibility and partnerships, and inclusion of working with excluded groups across all themes.
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