The annual Capacitybuilders conference, held 17th june at Birmingham Town Hall, marked the beginning of a new three year funding programme. £17 million will be given to fund organisations that help the third sector to flourish through the provision of information, advice and facilities.

Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, announced details of over £17 million to be invested through the Improving Reach Programme, with Capacitybuilders awarding over 70 grants to increase the capacity and sustainability of smaller third sector organisations specialising in providing advice and facilities to volunteers working with excluded communities.

Here in the South West the following organisations were successful with their bids and will be working on projects over the next three years  :

Plymouth Guild – £171,234
Cornwall Waste Action – £165,000
Community Council for Somerset – £432,329
Single Parent Action Network -  £410,550
Black Development Agency – £176,448
East Cornwall Council for Voluntary Service – £225,000
Dorset Youth Association – £263,040
Black South West Network – £160,713

We look forward to seeing some exciting new ICT developments from some of these projects – congratulations to all successful organisations.