Chris Pond has announced that he is stepping down from his role as chair of Capacitybuilders, due to an increase in the time commitment required by his role as director of financial capability at the Financial Services Authority.

Stephen Dunmore has been appointed as the interim chair of Capacitybuilders. He has been asked to step up from the Capacitybuilders’ board to provide continuity of leadership in delivery of Capacitybuilders’ programmes in support of charities, voluntary groups and social enterprises.

Dunmore brings with him experience of grant giving and the third sector as a result of his work at the Big Lottery Fund, and as Chair of the BBC’s Advisory Committee on Charitable Appeals.

Angela Smith, Minister for the Third Sector, said: “I am extremely grateful to Chris Pond for all his hard work and dedication. His leadership has helped to set up Capacitybuilders as a new organisation and ensured that it successfully delivers its funding programmes.

"I want to maintain consistency and stability for Capacitybuilders which is why I’ve appointed Stephen Dunmore as the interim Chair. He has great experience of Capacitybuilders and working with the third sector more broadly. I’m confident that he will lead continued progress developing vital third sector support services.”

Capacitybuilders is a Non-Departmental Public Body which seeks to improve access to advice, training and development services for third sector organisations.

It delivers programmes on behalf of the Office of the Third Sector, Defra and the Home Office.

Most recently, it has led delivery of the Modernisation Fund (www.modernisationfund.org.uk) aimed at providing direct assistance to frontline third sector organisations seeking to meet the challenges of the economic downturn.

Stephen Dunmore said: ”Over the past three years, Capacitybuilders has delivered an increasing portfolio of programmes, focused on transforming the support and advice available to frontline organisations.

" I look forward to working with Capacitybuilders’ staff and Board, and the sector as a whole, at a time when the ability to access high quality support and advice is more important than ever to those working in the third sector”.

Announcing his departure, Chris Pond said: ”Over the last three years, Capacitybuilders has helped ensure that, across the country, third sector organisations are able to access more effective, better coordinated support and advice services.

"An effective and dynamic third sector is vital to the strength of our communities. I am confident that, under Stephen’s leadership, Capacitybuilders will continue to deliver on that vision.”

The interim appointment of Stephen Dunmore has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The post of Chair of the Capacitybuilders is paid at the sum of £18,000 per year. A full recruitment process will be held next year.