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| MAJOR
GRANTS SCHEME FAILING DUE TO POOR PROCESSES |
07/07/03 |
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A
multi-million pound funding project for the Welsh voluntary sector has been
criticised as too "complex" by new research into its development.
The research report prepared by Newidiem, a Welsh economic development consultancy,
says the Objective One programme has revealed there are many barriers preventing
the scheme from being a success.
The study found the scheme is perceived by many charities as having a "complex
and time consuming application process", and also identifies a lack
of understanding of the impact the voluntary sector can have on economic
development programmes.
The research was commissioned by the Welsh Council for Voluntary Action
(WCVA) Europe, and its partner county voluntary councils in West Wales and
the valleys, which help charities develop and deliver Objective One projects
through information, advice and training.
"More than 150 voluntary sector projects have been sponsored under
Objective One, through more than £40m of grants. But there are concerns
that there is a perception in the statutory sectors that voluntary sector
projects are not fully valued or able to demonstrate their full impact,"
says Kevin Peacock, WCVA european operations officer.
"Objective One is primarily an economic development programme and because
of this, many programme managers look for direct job outcomes and classic
economic development style projects - such as business support or workforce
training.
"They do not see the value that voluntary organisations have in terms
of direct provision of employment, or the longer term impact of good voluntary
sector projects in regenerating areas and providing labour market supply.
The voluntary sector is often deemed as non-economic and therefore put off
from accessing funding accordingly."
Research findings also show there are significant variations in support
given to voluntary organisations when accessing Objective One, and that
other strategies for economic development were not well aligned with the
programme.
Peacock says: "Often the timing of when money is available, for how
long, which costs are eligible and ineligible, geographical coverage and
the mechanisms for applying, recording and reporting are different.
"Voluntary organisations in different parts of Wales also experience
varying levels of advice. This impacts both on the value of the programme
and also causes significant management issues for voluntary organisations
when trying to use Objective One.
"The scheme is time consuming and resource intensive. This is particularly
felt by smaller organisations, many of which still perceive Objective One
to be of more interest to larger voluntary sector or public sector bodies."
Copies of the report are available from WCVA’s Helpdesk on 0870
607 1666, or by downloading from www.wcva.org.uk/europe.
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