Deadline: 1-Apr-22
Prospectus is inviting applications to provide a range of essential services to voluntary and community organisations in the homelessness and rough sleeping sector.
The Voluntary, Community and Frontline Sector (VCFS) Grant is a new funding approach over the next 3 years, which will continue to support the essential work of the voluntary and community sector to deliver a sustained reduction in homelessness and rough sleeping.
They are making available a Grant programme delivered through 4 individually biddable lots, which will be managed through agreed workplans and regular monitoring. Bidders are welcome to apply for multiple lots and partnership bids are encouraged.
Aims
- Lot 1: To build the capacity, skills and knowledge of a range of frontline staff and volunteers in England through the provision of effective, quality homelessness and housing training, information resources and skills development.
- Lot 2: Specialist advice team to deliver prompt and effective 2nd tier housing, homelessness and welfare benefit advice via telephone, webchat, and digital tools to new and existing frontline audiences.
- Lot 3: Facilitating and supporting joint working between the voluntary and community sector, local public bodies and local authorities to tackle local homelessness challenges – using a partnership approach to address barriers in local systems.
- Lot 4: Training and best practice support for the national night shelter network. Accreditation for community organisations and shelters. Development of faith and community capabilities and links with statutory services.
Objectives
- Increase the capacity and capability of the sector to prevent and relieve rough sleeping and homelessness.
- Deliver specific advice to help frontline workers resolve individual cases.
- Enable stronger local strategic partnerships.
- Developing the faith and community sector.
Funding Information
- Lot 1: £850,000 – £1.2m
- Lot 2: £750,000 – £950,000
- Lot 3: £450,000 – £600,000
- Lot 4: £175,000 – £225,000
Outcomes
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Lot 1
- Training programme for the sector to enhance local authorities, public bodies and the sectors’ ability to respond to and prevent homelessness before a crisis occurs (with particular reference to at risk groups i.e., young people).
- Ensure the sector has the skills to support individuals, young people and those with protected characteristics.
- Sector bodies have a greater understanding of their learning needs and have the ability to support staff on career development pathways.
- Frontline sector has free access to a programme of skills development that will support governance, organisational resilience, and leadership.
- Grant providers have the ability to responsively target training to emergent issues, prioritising training availability for groups with greatest needs.
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Lot 2
- Specialist advice team to deliver prompt and effective housing, homelessness, and welfare benefit advice to staff and volunteers in local authorities, public bodies and the voluntary and community sector.
- Delivered via telephone, online, and digital.
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Lot 3
- Improved joint working between the voluntary and community sector, local public bodies, and the local authority to tackle local homelessness challenges.
- Local sector welcomes the intervention of the team and buy-in to local actions to make changes and improvements.
- Intelligence and learning from local areas supporting national best practice and policy making to address barriers in the local systems.
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Lot 4
- Smaller faith and community providers, especially shelter providers have access to the latest training and best practice support for night shelter network.
- Standards and outcomes in the sector are raised through an accreditation of community organisations and shelters.
- Development of sector’s capabilities and links with statutory services.
Eligibility Criteria
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They welcome applications from voluntary and community sector organisations based in England, with expertise and a proven track record of:
- Providing specialist service delivery within the homelessness and rough sleeping sector.
- Working collaboratively with sector bodies and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
- Coordinating a multi-agency approach, ensuring that maximum impact is realised and that all partners can contribute to outcomes.
- Significant and appropriate sector links and networks, ensuring that best practice is shared, and services undergo continuous improvement.
- Ability to deliver services which add value to the work of DLUHC, applications will be valued on depth of intervention, rather than breadth of scope.
- Ability to adapt to changing needs, for example to work with other providers.
- Delivering projects that provide value for money.
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To be an eligible organisation, applicants must be one or more of the following types of organisations:
- ‘Charity’ – An organisation registered as a Charity with UK charity regulators.
- A Community Interest Company registered with Companies House.
- A Charitable Incorporated Organisation registered with the Charity Commission.
- A Company Limited by Guarantee registered with Companies House.
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An unincorporated ‘Community group’ provided that it is:
- Established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes;
- Has a governing body with at least 3 members;
- Has an inclusive Membership policy;
- Has a governing document;
- Can provide accounts for the last 2 financial years;
- Has its own bank account; and
- Can hold land either by itself or via Trustees.
- They welcome ‘consortium’ bids, where eligible organisations are working together – but the application must be submitted by the lead and accountable organisation. Any Grant Agreement for such a bid will be an agreement between the DLUHC and the Accountable Body only. If a consortium bid is proposed the application should include the draft Memorandum of Understanding or other agreement that governs the relationship between the partners.
For more information, visit Prospectus.
For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/voluntary-and-community-frontline-sector-support-grant-prospectus
