Public Sector Cash available for Voluntary Sector

Date added: Monday 19th July 2010
Latest updated: Wednesday 11th April 2012

Local charity, Devon Community Foundation, has responded to the latest announcements about 30% cuts to the voluntary sector by urging local companies and people to help it win the remaining public sector cash available for community groups in Devon.

The charity, which supports hundreds of small voluntary and community groups across Devon on the frontline helping vulnerable people, still has £500,000 match funding cash available from government - if it can raise a matching £500,000 by March 2011.

The cash is part of a UK wide £50m Grassroots Endowment Challenge launched by the former government in July 2008 to stimulate investment in grassroots voluntary organisations by business and local philanthropists.

"This could be the last time that Devon's voluntary sector gets a chance to get its hands on public sector cash and it seems a shame to waste the opportunity," explains chief executive of Devon Community Foundation, Martha Wilkinson.

"In the same way David Cameron is talking about using dormant bank accounts, we can double any money received from dormant charitable trusts which can no longer grant-make. We can also double funds received from untraceable client accounts held by solicitors in line with SRA conduct rules."

"Businesses can help by joining our Devon 100 CSR Club which provides an easy way for them to invest back into community projects and makes more of their corporate giving for local causes."

As part of its 150th Anniversary campaign, the Western Morning News is also backing the charity's campaign to secure the extra public sector cash by encouraging readers to take part in one of its summer sponsored walks. Anyone who enters gets a chance to win a week's walking holiday in the Lake District. Walkers need to register their interest in the walk by 30th July by emailing: walks@westernmorningnews.co.uk

Everything raised by Devon Community Foundation will create a permanent Grassroots Challenge Fund for Devon, which will provide an ongoing source of support for small voluntary and community groups which are making a real difference at grassroots level to the most vulnerable in our local communities.

Martha Wilkinson adds, "This is local giving for local people to improve our local communities and help the most vulnerable in our society like the elderly, young carers, those with mental health problems and homeless people - let's not miss the chance to secure this remaining government cash for Devon."

For more information about Western Morning News walks and how to support Devon Community Foundation visit www.devoncf.com

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