A Review by the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts of grants made to the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns (NCADC) by the Community Fund is likely to affect a number of voluntary groups in the future.
The Review was set up after a second grant of £336,000 (following one of £191,000 in 1998) had been made by the Community Fund to NCADC in July 2002, but Ministers had expressed concerns about some of the organisation’s activities.
The Review suggests that the Fund should widen its definition of risk, and consider the context within which applicants operate, to avoid funding activities that could be considered political and doctrinaire. It adds, ‘The Fund needs to be aware of proposals to fund sensitive areas of expenditure’. In addition, the Review also reports that in view of falling lottery receipts, the Fund is already moving to an Investor model approach of grant funding. This ‘partnership model’ will entail much closer working between the Fund staff and successful applicants to help achieve and monitor outcomes.
Out of a total dispersal of £2.27 billion to the charitable and voluntary sector, the Community Fund has given £20 million to asylum seeker and refugee organisations (less than one per cent).
You need some new batteries. It’s about 1% not 0.001%. Ah well why let the facts get in the way of a good whinge, eh?