Voluntary Sector Commissioning - Infrastructure and Capacity Building

Overview

The Council buys a range of services to help develop the infrastructure and capacity of voluntary sector organisations working in the borough. This type of support is traditionally known as second tier support and is currently provided by Richmond Council for Voluntary Service and sector specific Strategic Lead organisations. The purpose of infrastructure and capacity building services is to facilitate a healthy, robust and responsive voluntary and community sector and can include advice on fundraising, volunteering, financial management, governance and providing an advocacy role for the sector and liaison point with statutory agencies.

Funding of these services is due to end on 31 March 2012.  The Council is therefore looking to identify its new commissioning intentions for supporting the voluntary and community sector which reflects new local and national priorities.

Consultation

To identify the type of support and services that are needed locally the Council invited the voluntary sector and other stakeholders to respond to a consultation paper on infrastructure and capacity building services.