[WiLT] Funding Advice National Network

[WiL Admin]

Funding Advice National Network
Funding advisers' support services on national agenda

A national partnership has been commissioned by the Finance Hub to
research the feasibility of establishing of a Funding Advice National
Network (FANN) in England. The partnership, led by fit4funding,
includes Funding Information North East, South Yorkshire Funding
Advice Bureau, Wiltshire CIB, NAVCA and the Institute of Fundraising.

The case for a national network to support advisers came from a report
by Sheffield Hallam University produced last year for the Finance Hub.
Research found a substantial level of activity through Funding
Advisers Networks (FANs) across England. The vast majority of
respondents (73%) to the research were in favour of creating a
national funding advisers network.

The first stage of this work is to develop and consult on a
feasibility study. Over 42 networks identified are expected to
participate in the survey, in addition to a wide range of third sector
organisations.

Details of the survey can be found on fit4funding's website
http://www.fit4funding.org.uk/

Those working in providing funding advice to third sector
organisations are invited to participate.

This is to be followed by a more detailed business planning process
later in the year.

However, sustainability is more important than scale. Respondents
preferred to start with something smaller that was sustainable, rather
than attempt to establish a larger body that was not sustainable.

fit4funding is the lead body for National Funding Advice Partnership -
a group of funding advice agencies, including fit4funding, Funding
Information North East, South Yorkshire Funding Advice Bureau,
Charities Information Bureau (Wiltshire), National Association of
Community and Voluntary Action, The Institute of Fundraising.

The Finance Hub is making sense of funding and finance in the Third
Sector through the delivery of an integrated programme of research,
development, training and information dissemination. It is funded by
Capacitybuilders as part of the ChangeUp programme to increase
capacity in the sector; it is one of six National Hubs offering
support and information.

Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) is the accountable body for the Finance
Hub. It is contracted by Capacitybuilders to March 2008.

For more information visit http://www.financehub.org.uk/ or
http://www.fit4funding.org.uk/

Press Release issued 28th August 2007

Posted on WiLT blog at
http://www.freecharity.org.uk/~womeninlondon/?p=403