[WiLT] Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme - England

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Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme - England
Next Application Deadline: 15/11/2006

This national grant programme will fund voluntary organisations to do
work of national significance that supports the outcomes of the Every
Child Matters: Change for Children programme. The grant programme was
created to help the DfES make its funding to voluntary organisations
more strategic and to make it easier for organisations to apply for
funding for work that improves outcomes for children, young people and
families. It aims to contribute to increasing stability in the
voluntary and community sector by offering longer term funding. The
programme is open to charities, or non-profit-making organisations set
up and run on similar lines to a charity. A limited number of
strategic and project grants will be awarded in the programme's second
round.

Applicants should be aware that the amount of funding available in
2007-08 (£3.3m) is substantially less than in 2006-07 (£17m). The
amount of funding available depends upon the number of grants expiring
under the five previous grant schemes that were incorporated into the
CYPF programme in 2005.

Extended Description:

The Children, Young People and Families Grant Programme will support
work of national significance that contributes to ensuring children
and young people stay safe, are healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a
positive contribution and achieve economic wellbeing. These are the
outcomes that children and young people have said are most important
to them. That is why they are embedded in the Children Act 2004 and
are the outcomes of the Every Child Matters: Change for Children
programme. The grant programme will assist with the achievement of key
Every Child Matters policy objectives. These include joining up,
expanding and developing accessible, affordable and high quality early
learning and childcare options, and providing opportunity, support and
challenge for teenagers and for parents.

The programme brings together five existing grant programmes managed
by the DfES. These are:
* Children and Young People's Consultation Fund
* National Voluntary Youth Organisations Grant Scheme
* Safeguarding Children and Supporting Families grants
* Strengthening Families Grant
* Sure Start VCS grants.

Since April 2006, funding that would have been available through these
programmes has been distributed through the new single programme.
Organisations will not be expected to reapply for funding already
allocated under these grant programmes. As grants under each programme
expire the funding is made available to the Children, Young People and
Families Grant Programme. This accounts for the variation in funding
available for each round. The second round which is now open to
Expressions of Interest has £3.3m available and is likely to fund a
very small number of organisations.

Two types of funding are available:

Strategic grants will support organisations that make a significant
contribution to achieving the grant programme's aims. The activity for
which strategic funding is sought must have national significance in
improving outcomes for children, young people or families. Strategic
grants are available for:
* capacity building activities
* infrastructure provision
* specialist services.

Project grants support innovative approaches to service delivery that
have national significance, because they cover two or more Government
Regions and can be replicated or scaled up for delivery in a greater
number of locations. Project grants will be awarded for up to one
year.

More detailed descriptions of Strategic and Project grants can be
found in the CYPF Grant Guide, which can be downloaded by via the
links at the bottom of this page.

Latest Information:

In the last funding round, 4.5% of applications were successful. The
majority of unsuccessful applications were rejected because of
eligibility. This means that many applications did not contain all the
documents/information stated in the guidance notes or the project did
not have national significance - i.e. it would only be of benefit to
the local community where it was based.

DfES is concerned to limit the work undertaken by unsuccessful
applicants, and as a result has introduced an Expression of Interest
stage for this round. This will enable applicants to submit a brief
proposal before being invited to complete a full application.

Further Information:

The Children, Young People and Families programme only funds
activities of national significance. Activities whose impact is
limited to a local area are more appropriately funded through children
's trusts. Children's trusts will be looking to develop a market of
local providers who can add value to the delivery of public services
in improving outcomes for children and young people. Strong and
diverse voluntary and community sectors will be a key aspect of this.
DfES is committed both to removing ringfences and to devolving funding
for local service delivery to local authorities to be deployed through
children's trusts.

Restrictions:
* Applications from individuals or from schools or colleges cannot be
accepted
* For organisations which are a branch of a federated structure,
applications must be submitted by the headquarters or central office
of the federation.

Key Criteria:

Applicants need to be able to demonstrate that their organisation:
* is non-profit-making. If it is not a registered charity, the
organisation must be set up and run on similar lines to a charity.
* has a clear management structure, a constitution, clear and
efficient financial controls, and is financially viable
* is committed to and practises: quality assurance, equal
opportunities for service users and paid/volunteer staff, safeguarding
children and young people. DfES will also need to see how the
involvement of children, young people and/or adults who use services
is maximised within the organisation and/or project
* has the capacity to monitor the implementation of the proposed
activity effectively, to evaluate it and to report on its outcomes and
impact in relation to the aims of the grant programme.

Previously awarded funds:

On 10 February 2006 successful projects to be funded during 2006-07
were announced. 65 projects were awarded funding out of just over 1470
applicants at a combined total of £17.044m.

A list of CYPF Grant Awards made under the 2006/07 round can be
downloaded under the Appendix heading at the bottom of this page.

Application Procedure:

Completed Expressions of Interest must be received by Wednesday 15
November 2006. Applicants should send one electronic version by email
to cypfgrant.programme at dfes.gsi.gov.uk and one hard copy to the postal
address below. If you have any queries, there is a limited helpline
service open between the hours of 10:00am to 12:00 (noon) and 2:00 -
4:00pm on 020 7925 3882.

DfES aims to notify applicants by the end of November whether they
have been invited to submit a full application. Full applications must
be completed by 3 January 2007 and applicants will be notified whether
they have been successful or unsuccessful in February 2007.

An extensive list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found in the
CYPF 2007-08 Grants Guide, see link at the bottom of this page.

Contact Information:
* Mail: Mr Shakil Malik, Department for Education and Skills, Area 2S,
Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT
* Phone: 020 7925 3882 (limited helpline)
* Email: cypfgrant.programme at dfes.gsi.gov.uk

Documents and Links:
* Appendix - CYPF Grant Awards 2006/07
* Application Form - CYPF 2007-08 Expression of Interest Form
* Guidance - CYPF 2007-08 Grant Guide
* Useful Links - Every Child Matters website - CYPF grants page

Can be found at
http://www.governmentfunding.org.uk/VCSSearch.aspx?WCI=htmSchemeView&WCU=DSCODE=DSCLIVEGF,SCHEMEID=12-S74,SEARCH=DS=DSCLIVEGF


Posted on WiLT blog at
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