Commissioning. Navca.org. - news. The Local Grants Forum says that the 2012 NCVO Civil Society Almanac, published today, provides conclusive proof that a major shift from grant funding to contracting by local public bodies is taking place.
Based on figures up to 2010, the Almanac shows public sector grant funding has fallen dramatically since 2005 - and fell by £500 million between 2007/08 and 2009/10. These figures reflect the position prior to the recent big reductions in public spending, which have resulted in much publicised further cuts to grant funding during 2010/11 and 2011/12. The Local Grants Forum was founded in 2007 in response to this threat to local grant funding. The 17 national charities who comprise the membership of the LGF believe grant aid is an essential part of the local funding mix for voluntary and community organisations and vital for sustaining thriving local communities.