NCVO takes over defunct small charities group’s assets

The NCVO has agreed to take over services run by small charities infrastructure body Foundation for Social Improvement (FSI), which closed this week.

This includes the running of Small Charity Week, which the small charity infrastructure and training body had run.

The NCVO says it will look to work with other sector organisations to “establish partnerships for the longer-term management of these assets”.

Also, FSI members will be offered free NCVO membership if their annual turnover is below £50,000.

“We are extremely saddened by the closure of the FSI but are determined to ensure the specialist support provided by the FSI is not lost,” said Sarah Vibert, NCVO chief executive.

FSI chair Noorzaman Rashid added: “Our focus since our announcement has been working with others to protect the important work FSI has done to benefit small charities and voluntary organisations.

“We believe NCVO has the capacity and power to connect and collaborate with others - and we believe this is a key way to ensure our legacy of small charity support lives on.”

The decision follows the announcement in March that the FSI was to close as “it has proved increasingly challenging” to continue operating long term.

“We are extremely disappointed that yet another infrastructure charity must close at a time when supporting these organisations is so vital,” its statement added.

At the end of March, the Small Charities Coalition (SCC) also closed, with the NCVO and FSI taking over the running of its support services.

In addition, a Small Charities Advisory Panel has been set up, to hold the NCVO and others supporting small charities to account “for continuing the legacies” of the SCC and the FSI. This panel includes representatives from small charities, funders and infrastructure bodies.