Combined North Funding Fair to take account of changing landscape
The Funding landscape is changing for everyone, especially local voluntary and community groups. Grants are less available and groups need to be prepared to consider other ways of working, perhaps through closer partnership or collaboration with others and a switch from grants to tendered opportunities. In these increasingly challenging situations, groups need to be on top of their game; be more skilled and better prepared for the market that they now need to operate in.
The North Funding Fair at Carlisle Racecourse on Thursday 29 March 2012 will provide an excellent opportunity for local groups to gain a valuable insight into this changing funding landscape, from both a local and national perspective.
The day will start with a plenary session where funders and local organisations will highlight the changes in the funding landscape, and what these changes may mean for groups looking to access funding.
Cumbria CVS is very pleased that Fiona Sheil, from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) will be in attendance to provide an overview of what is happening at a national level and to detail the support that is available in response to this. She will also be providing a very useful workshop on Public Sector Contracts preparing for the Future, which will look at Payment by Results, Social Investment and Sub Contracting.
Following this, groups will have the opportunity to engage with a wide range of local, regional and national funders including the Big Lottery Fund, Northern Rock Foundation, Hadfield Trust, and other support providers at the Marketplace sessions, and attend valuable presentations and workshops following the theme of the day.
This new style Fair is a prestige event for the sector which will hopefully result in an increase in grants and other funding coming into North Cumbria to provide valuable services and support essential activities.
This day will also see the opportunity for groups to attend other valuable bitesize sessions both over lunch and at the end of the day.
At £20 per person, this event provides excellent value for money and is open to members of voluntary and community organisations across Carlisle and Eden. Groups are advised to book early and secure their place(s).
"It's great that with support of local partners we can continue to offer a fantastic event, which focuses on funding and which benefits the local economy, community organisations and residents across North Cumbria. This event is early for Eden groups and slightly later for Carlisle groups but we look forward to welcoming them all said Julie Mosley, Development Officer at Cumbria CVS.
The Funding Fair is kindly supported by Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council and Riverside Housing Association.
Booking forms will be circulated next week, but if you want to ensure you are on the mailing list, please contact the Carlisle office on 01228 512513.
In the meantime, please contact either the Carlisle or Eden office with any funding enquiries that you may have on 01228 512513 or 01768 800350 respectively.
Cumbria CVS will also be running Funding Fairs in the West and South of the county as follows:
- West Wednesday 4 July 2012
- South Wednesday 21 November 2012