Creating effective partnerships between government and the voluntary and community sector

Corporate Author:

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Audit Office

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

The voluntary and community sector receives substantial support from public funds: in the six years to March 2010, public bodies in Northern Ireland made some 14,500 offers of assistance to voluntary and community organisations totalling £1.34 billion. The report draws on a number of case studies to highlight the issues faced by the Sector in dealing with public bodies. MENCAP, with a multiplicity of funding arrangements, considers that the funding relationship between it and these funders could be substantially improved if one organisation would take on a 'lead funder' role, carried out risk assessments and provided assurances, that other funders could take reliance from and reduce the extent of their monitoring and audit. In contrast, Shelter NI has had a very positive experience in working with the Housing Executive. The report also highlights the benefits of long-term funding arrangements, which provide greater stability for organisations. Yet funding arrangements like this are not as wide-spread as they should be. The report also recognises that where the sector provides public services, it is legitimate for it to be fairly funded through including relevant elements for both direct and overhead costs. Pressures on both funders and the voluntary and community sector will continue to increase, but this provides an opportunity for the public sector to assess its priorities and funding of the sector, and for the sector to reflect on its sustainability and the potential for rationalisation.

Extent	[6], 62p.	ISBN	9780337096471
Size	N/A	Price	£5.00
Format	Paperback	Published	15 Sep 2010
Availability	Out of stock - available to order	Delivery	Delivery options and charges