Thriving Third Sector Fund

The Thriving Third Sector Fund is an “exciting opportunity for the voluntary and community sector to address the barriers and issues that prevent their development” says Caroline Taylor, Programmes Director at Essex Community Foundation.  “Executives from local charities have set the criteria and will  be deciding on the grant awards, so this is a real chance for the sector itself to drive forward its own change.”

The Thriving Third Sector Funds was established in 2009 and is an exciting programme aimed at supporting a ‘thriving third sector’, throughout the administrative county of Essex.

The fund aims to support voluntary and community organisations that clearly understand and can demonstrate the barriers and issues they face in their development, and how the proposed work contributes to a thriving third sector.

Essex Community Foundation is working with a panel of executives from local charities and from Essex County Council to identify, and select, priorities for funding.  To date £200,000 has been available for distribution and multi-year funding will be considered for proposals demonstrating the greatest impact.

How to apply
There is a two stage application process and the deadline date for initial proposals to be submitted to the Foundation is 9 September 2011

Guidelines can be found here........ . or you can phone Caroline Taylor on 01245 356018

The list of TTSF Panel Members can be found here.. here...

Examples of Grants Awarded

Hythe Community Centre Association, Colchester were awarded £39,909 over 2 years for a collaborative project that will use the strengths of one successful community centre to develop and strengthen neighbouring centres through partnership working. The Hythe Community Centre is the lead organisation and will work with three other Community Centre Associations located in other deprived wards of Colchester to share best practice, cost-effectiveness and increase the use of each of the centres. It is expected that at the end of the two year period, Community Associations will have developed a strategic vision for their Centre in order for them to successfully run their building as a major community resource.

Tendring Community Voluntary Services, were awarded £33,282 over 3 years to establish a trustee network which will provide an annual programme of events and training to increase and strengthen knowledge and skills, partnerships and relationships whilst implementing good practices and networking opportunities for Tendring based trustees.

Support 4 Sight, Uttlesford were awarded £19,900 over 2 years to develop Essex Vision Strategic Partnership, a new strategic partnership that brings together sight loss charities across Essex to improve services and to drive forward the UK Vision Strategy. The new Essex Vision Strategic Partnership will create a stronger force with an ability to influence and negotiate with local authorities, PCT's and service commissioners. This will open up new opportunities for partner organisations for greater involvement in service delivery and funding in the long term, thus assisting with their sustainability and contributing more widely to a thriving third sector across the county.

Uttlesford Crossroads - Caring for Carers were awarded £42,000 over 3 years to take the lead in the collaboration or merger of the 6 Crossroads Care schemes in Essex as national research demonstrated that many small local charities are less sustainable in the current funding landscape, many Crossroads Care branches, have now merged with positive benefits.

Colchester Community Voluntary Services, were awarded £58,000 over 3 years to roll out the successful Community Accounts Service across Essex. The CVS is recognised by the CVS network as a centre of excellence for its work in supporting a range of local, voluntary and community organisations develop financial acumen through book-keeping and independent examination services, financial health check audits, (all generating an income for the service) training courses and workshops, one to one support sessions, budget development etc. plus advice on strategic planning, full cost recovery.  CCVS will now expand this service across Essex.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of the above projects please contact Essex Community Foundation on 01245 356018