A useful briefing for faith groups on public service contracts
Why should faith groups be interested in contracts?
More and more, public bodies and other funders are shifting from grant funding to providing resources by commissioning services through a contractual process. This trend is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. However statutory authorities have yet to provide any evidence that the equivalent monies are migrating from the old grants system to the tendering process.
There may also be a shift in focus within the Council to seek smaller providers of services in a more local context. This is in response to a drive from national government to deliver services in partnerships and not just direct from local council services. This essentially means that, instead of directing people to a council-run centre of service, councils will support individuals by offering a service centred around their needs and delivered locally, possibly by a local community organisation.
Faith groups can share ideas, best practice and knowledge with each other, which will ensure that individual and partnership bids are stronger. It is important to find out where surveys of faith groups are taking place, and to become involved in them. These surveys help commissioning bodies to identify where the faith groups are, what they do and most importantly what they might potentially do in terms of offering services the commissioners need.
Faith groups may wish to bid for a contract to:
- keep a project going that was previously funded by grant monies.
- start a new project.
- develop their capacity within an existing project.
- fund a move of an existing project into a new area or towards a new target.
For more information download the whole article.
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