It believes that the consultation is now redundant due to the announcement by Tessa Jowell that there are to be three pre-determined themes to BLF funding.

The call coincides with the Directory of Social Change (DSC) for England and Wales also expressing its concern about the themes. It has highlighted the cost incurred to those charities that “wasted time” by contributing to the consultation, and has questioned the independence of the funding, describing news of the themes as an “unexpectedly naked seizure of control by the government of what was once a stream of independent charitable funding”.

The DSC has announced its support for ACEVO's intention to campaign against the new proposals. Meanwhile, NICVA is writing to Culture Arts and Leisure Minister, Angela Smith, to ask her to address nine key points, including the recommendation that Northern Ireland has its own board to decide on appropriate themes, outcomes and priorities.

NICVA is asking for organisations to support it by also calling for the suspension of the current consultation until a consultation on the three broad themes, outcomes and priorities has taken place. For more information contact Neil Irwin at neil.irwin@nicva.org or 028 90887 7777