In a statement marking the closure of the consultation on the future of Capacitybuilders, Destination 2014, Simon Hebditch said that until the responses to the consultation had been considered, the future of the Hubs was still under discussion.

“To be clear, Capacitybuilders could come to the conclusion that National Support Services are not required beyond March 2008, in which case the tender programme would be cancelled,” Hebditch said. “We are at the stage where nothing has been finalised and all options are currently under consideration.”

A statement from Capacitybuilders said: “The National Hubs were reviewed last autumn and Capacitybuilders agreed to offer future national support services to the sector on the assumption that this was endorsed through the consultation exercise.”

Responding to the consultation, which also looked at the role of Capacitybuilders across the third sector, NCVO was outspoken in its fears for the future of the body. It called on the government to commit to maintaining investment in the sector’s infrastructure to 2014 and beyond, but warned that Capacitybuilders should not carve out a wider role for itself.

“NCVO is very concerned that in Destination 2014 Capacitybuilders appears to be setting out a wider role for itself in relation to acting as a voice for the voluntary and community sector and seeking to influence public policy. We believe that extending Capacitybuilders’ role in such a way would be inappropriate,” its response said.

It said as a small agency with limited resources it should not seek to take on extra roles and responsibilities. “A variety of infrastructure organisations already exist within the VCS who have a role representing, supporting and promoting the interests of VCOs,” the NCVO’s submission to the consultation said. “Capacitybuilders is neither an independent agency, nor a part of the third sector. It is therefore not appropriate for it to seek to represent the sector or influence public policy.”

The consultation is set to close at the end of April. A revised version of the Destination 2014 paper, taking into account the comments expressed in the consultation, will be launched at the Capacitybuilders Annual Conference on 3 July.