Agenda item

11.1

The Council has a strong history of grant investing in voluntary and community organisations (VCS). This report seeks to collate together in one place and provide an overview of much of that grant investment activity. It also seeks approval to continue this grant investment for a further period of time. The breadth of the investment is £3,507,436 per year with 56 VCS partners and over 20 lunch clubs. The grant agreements for the organisations listed in the report are due to expire in March 2023.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Programme

1. Approves the continuation of the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Programme as detailed in this report at a cost of £1,467,104 per year for the next five years (2023-2028) including where required under the Constitution:

I. the extension of the grant agreements currently funded from the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Fund, as detailed within this report, for five years until March 2028; and

II. the grant funds detailed in this report.

2. Authorises the use of the Tackling Inequalities Fund and any underspend in the funding for the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Programme as a whole to support the impending Cost of Living Crisis which will include new approaches to community development and social eating and to the extent not already delegated by the Constitution delegate authority to the Director of Integrated Commissioning to determine any necessary eligibility criteria and award any necessary grants from this funding for this purpose;

People Keeping Well Programme

3. Approves the continuation of the People Keeping Well Programme as detailed in this report at a cost of £1,518,268.53 per year for the next five years (2023- 2028) including the extension of the People Keeping Well grant agreements detailed within this report for five years until March 2028;

Equality Partnerships Programme

4. Approves the continuation of the Equality Partnerships Programme at a cost of £71,250 per year for the next three years (2023-2026) as detailed within this report including where required under the Constitution the extension of the Equality Partnerships Programme grant agreements detailed within this report for three years until March 2026;

Associate Libraries Programme

5. Approves the continuation of the Associate Libraries Programme enabling direct grants totalling £135,213 for the next year (2023-2024) as detailed within this report;

Supporting Vulnerable People Programme

6. Approves the continuation of the Supporting Vulnerable People Programme at a cost of £139,300 per year for the next five years (2023-2028) as detailed within this report, including the extension of the Supporting Vulnerable People agreements detailed within this report for five years until March 2028;

Working with communities in Sheffield’s Green Spaces Programme

7. Approves the continuation of the Sheffield Green Spaces Programme including where required under the Constitution:

I. the extension to Sheffield’s Green Spaces grant agreements with Green Estate, Sheffield Countryside Conservation Trust and Steel Valley Project, detailed within this report, for 1 year until March 2024 at a cost of £156,300; and

II. the extension of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust grant agreements detailed within this report for 5 years until March 2028, at a cost of £20,000 per year; and

General management and approval of grants

8. Where no such authority already exists under the Constitution delegate authority to the relevant Director for each grant programme to:

I. award new grants from any programme underspend (returned or unpaid funding); and

II. withdraw funding as necessary and in line with this report and the conditions of the grant funding agreements

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations were at the forefront of helping people throughout the covid pandemic and are now supporting people with the dual crisis of poor mental wellbeing and increasing poverty / cost of living rise (expected to continue for 3 years). The city and residents are more than ever reliant on VCS organisations enabling and walking alongside them.

11.3.2

We have long standing relationships of over 10 years with many of the organisations and they continue to support the outcomes need for people and our communities, green spaces to thrive.

11.3.3

As outlined in the One Year Plan and new Delivery Plan, we are committed to working with the VCS and continuing to fund our strategic partners at the same level through the modest Grant Investment Programme outlined in this Report helps to demonstrate that commitment whilst recognising the financial constraints the Council is under.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

None. The Do Nothing option was discounted as to cut or change grant funding support would be detrimental at this time to the organisations, the people they work with and ultimately Council services.

11.1

The Head of Commissioning presented a report outlining that the Council has a strong history of grant investing in voluntary and community organisations (VCS). The report seeks to collate together in one place and provide an overview of much of that grant investment activity. It also seeks approval to continue this grant investment for a further period of time. The breadth of the investment is £3,507,436 per year with 56 VCS partners and over 20 lunch clubs. The grant agreements for the organisations listed in the report are due to expire in March 2023.

11.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Strategy and Resources Policy Committee:-

Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Programme

1. Approves the continuation of the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Programme as detailed in this report at a cost of £1,467,104 per year for the next five years (2023-2028) including where required under the Constitution:

I. the extension of the grant agreements currently funded from the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Fund, as detailed within this report, for five years until March 2028; and

II. the grant funds detailed in this report.

2. Authorises the use of the Tackling Inequalities Fund and any underspend in the funding for the Voluntary and Community Sector Grant Aid Programme as a whole to support the impending Cost of Living Crisis which will include new approaches to community development and social eating and to the extent not already delegated by the Constitution delegate authority to the Director of Integrated Commissioning to determine any necessary eligibility criteria and award any necessary grants from this funding for this purpose;

People Keeping Well Programme

3. Approves the continuation of the People Keeping Well Programme as detailed in this report at a cost of £1,518,268.53 per year for the next five years (2023- 2028) including the extension of the People Keeping Well grant agreements detailed within this report for five years until March 2028;

Equality Partnerships Programme

4. Approves the continuation of the Equality Partnerships Programme at a cost of £71,250 per year for the next three years (2023-2026) as detailed within this report including where required under the Constitution the extension of the Equality Partnerships Programme grant agreements detailed within this report for three years until March 2026;

Associate Libraries Programme

5. Approves the continuation of the Associate Libraries Programme enabling direct grants totalling £135,213 for the next year (2023-2024) as detailed within this report;

Supporting Vulnerable People Programme

6. Approves the continuation of the Supporting Vulnerable People Programme at a cost of £139,300 per year for the next five years (2023-2028) as detailed within this report, including the extension of the Supporting Vulnerable People agreements detailed within this report for five years until March 2028;

Working with communities in Sheffield’s Green Spaces Programme

7. Approves the continuation of the Sheffield Green Spaces Programme including where required under the Constitution:

I. the extension to Sheffield’s Green Spaces grant agreements with Green Estate, Sheffield Countryside Conservation Trust and Steel Valley Project, detailed within this report, for 1 year until March 2024 at a cost of £156,300; and

II. the extension of the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust grant agreements detailed within this report for 5 years until March 2028, at a cost of £20,000 per year; and

General management and approval of grants

8. Where no such authority already exists under the Constitution delegate authority to the relevant Director for each grant programme to:

I. award new grants from any programme underspend (returned or unpaid funding); and

II. withdraw funding as necessary and in line with this report and the conditions of the grant funding agreements

11.3

Reasons for Decision

11.3.1

Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations were at the forefront of helping people throughout the covid pandemic and are now supporting people with the dual crisis of poor mental wellbeing and increasing poverty / cost of living rise (expected to continue for 3 years). The city and residents are more than ever reliant on VCS organisations enabling and walking alongside them.

11.3.2

We have long standing relationships of over 10 years with many of the organisations and they continue to support the outcomes need for people and our communities, green spaces to thrive.

11.3.3

As outlined in the One Year Plan and new Delivery Plan, we are committed to working with the VCS and continuing to fund our strategic partners at the same level through the modest Grant Investment Programme outlined in this Report helps to demonstrate that commitment whilst recognising the financial constraints the Council is under.

11.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

None. The Do Nothing option was discounted as to cut or change grant funding support would be detrimental at this time to the organisations, the people they work with and ultimately Council services.