Hampshire County Council

Executive Member for Children's Services Item 9

23 March 2006

Grants to Voluntary Organisations 2006-07 : Children and Families

Report of the Director of Children's Services

1.

Summary

1.1

This report provides details of the grants to voluntary organisations from the Children and Families grant programme, formerly part of Social Services. It also provides information on the Children and Families grant procedure.

1.2

Supporting voluntary organisations which deliver services to children and their families is in line with the Corporate Strategy Aim 4, Building strong and safe communities. It allows voluntary organisations to deliver services which support the Corporate Strategy Aim 1, Maximising life opportunities and achieves the five outcomes of "Every Child Matters" and the Children Act 2004.

1.3

The applications in this report have been managed in accordance with the principles of the One Compact for Hampshire. 2.5% inflation is recommended in line with the County Council's budget for inflation.

2.

Budget and Procedure of the Children and Families Grant Programme 2006-07

2.1

The grant budget is part of the devolved budget for Children and Families located in areas and at headquarters. Out of this budget, £84,405 has been set aside for grants to voluntary organisations.

2.2

Grants are only given to organisations that are in compliance with the aims and objectives, priorities and policies of the Children's Services Department and Hampshire County Council and apply via application form with appropriate documentation. Application forms are available from the corporate grant website, information centres, and the Grants Officer. Organisations which have received recurring grants have been invited to apply. Appendix 2 gives more information on the eligibility criteria and requirements.

2.3

A wide variety of organisations and services have been supported in previous years: play schemes for disabled children and young people, services for youth in deprived areas, counselling for children and young people, support to parents and children suffering from domestic violence, family mediation. Some of the organisations are also eligible and have received funding from Hampshire County Council's Youth Services, Early Years, and Arts.

2.4

Grants above £5,000 require approval from the Executive Member. They are recommended by Service Managers with County Manager endorsement where required. Out of the above mentioned grant budget, it is recommended that £30,505 be spent on grants above £5,000, of which details can be found in Appendix 1.

2.5

Grants up to £5,000 are approved by Service Managers with County Manager endorsement where required. Out of the above mentioned grant budget, £53,900 will be spent for grants to voluntary organisations up to £5,000. A list of these grants will be available from the corporate grants database.

3.

Impact Assessment

3.1

In compiling this report account has been taken of the requirements of the Corporate Equalities Plan and Race Scheme. The One Compact for Hampshire has social inclusion as one of its principles and states that all partners are committed to the importance of promoting equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation and belief. Additionally, equal opportunity policies have been sought from the voluntary organisations that apply for grants above £5,000

4.

Personnel Implications

4.1

No personnel implications have been identified for County Council staff.

5.

Financial Implications

5.1

No additional financial implications have been identified with this proposal.

6.

Crime Prevention Issues

6.1

No crime prevention issues have been identified. Those grants that support youth work reduce the likelihood of some young people being involved in crime.

Recommendation

1

That the proposals for the support of voluntary organisations in 2006-07, totalling £30,504 which are outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

Grant

allocated

2005-06

£

Amount

requested

2006-07

£

Proposed

allocation

2006-07

£

1.

Hampshire Family Mediation

7,273

10,000

7,455

2.

Off The Record

13,411

13,813

13,747

3.

Relate, the Hampshire Group, Relateen Service

9,076

14,400

9,303

Total for Children and Families

30,505

1.

Hampshire Family Mediation - £7,455

1.1

Hampshire Family Mediation helps families involved in separation and divorce to communicate better with each other and reach decisions. This will reduce conflict, the hardship and distress caused by the break up of marriage and family and thus preserve and protect the health both mental and physical of adults and children involved. There has a been a constant demand for the service and Hampshire Family Mediation deals with approximately 2000 enquiries and conducts 500 mediations involving some 800 children each year. The organisation has the Community Legal Services quality mark for mediation. The grant will pay for core costs and also allow for relief in hardship cases for services across Hampshire. A grant of £7,455, last year's grant with 2.5% inflation, is recommended.

2.

Off The Record - £13,746

2.1

Off The Record aims to relieve and prevent suffering of young people aged 11 - 25 in South East Hampshire in wards with some of the highest levels of social deprivation. The organisation offers one to one counselling, educational and preventative services, befriending, support and information. These services help a young person to develop self-confidence, self esteem and enables him or her to make safe, healthy and life enhancing choices. Approximately 555 young people, 50% of them with mental illness, benefit from this service. The grant will contribute towards the running costs, including salaries. A grant of £13,746, last year's grant with 2.5% inflation, is recommended.

3.

Relate, the Hampshire Group, Relateen Service - £9,303

3.1

Relate, the Hampshire Group, aim to enhance the quality of couple and family relationships. The Relateen Service provides one to one support for young people whose parents are separating or with step family issues. This allows a young person to voice his or her anger, grief and fear and helps to increase his/her self-esteem, confidence and improves communication within the family. Approximately 128 young people benefit from this service. The grant will pay for the counselling, which is free for the young person, delivered by Relate centres in Aldershot and Alton, Basingstoke, and Winchester. A grant of £9,303, last year's grant with 2.5% inflation, is recommended.

1

Eligibility criteria

1.1

The information and guidance provided to interested voluntary organisations states that the Department will consider voluntary and community organisations eligible for grant aid where the following conditions are fulfilled.

· The services, projects or activities of the organisation are in compliance with the aims and objectives, priorities and policies of the Children's Services Department and Hampshire County Council.

· The services, projects or activities benefit people living in the County of Hampshire.

· The organisation has a clear management structure within its constitution.

1.2

The Department states further that to be eligible for support the voluntary or community organisation must:

· Benefit children, young people and their families and carers in the Hampshire County Council area.

· Demonstrate how their work meets the outcomes of the Children's Act 2004 and the priorities, aims and objectives of the Children's Services Department.

· Have policy statements and guidelines in place for Equal Opportunities, Health and Safety, Child Protection and Quality Assurance (where applicable).

· Ensure all staff in contact with children and young people both paid and voluntary have an up to date Criminal Records Bureau clearance.

· Apply for funding from other sources such as trusts, district/borough councils, businesses or other sponsorship or contribute to the costs in kind. (Information on sources of funding can be found under "useful links" of our website http://www.hants.gov.uk/grants)

· Comply with mutually agreed reporting and monitoring requirements.

2

Required documents

2.1

The documents an applicant is required to send depend on the size of the application as recommended by Hampshire County Council's Guide of Good Practice on Funding.

2.2

Applicants for small grants (less than £1,000) are asked to send:

· Application form (required parts only)

· Documents:

o Latest financial report / accounts

o Child Protection Policy (only if available)

2.3

Applicants for medium grants (between £1,000 and £5,000) are asked to send:

· Application form (required parts only)

· Documents:

o Latest financial report / accounts (Please note that the Charity Commission writes: "The Statement of Recommended Practice (SORP) recommends that the annual report is attached to the accounts whenever a full set of accounts is distributed by a charity.")

o Child Protection Policy (only if available)

2.4

Applicants for large grants (above £5,000) are asked to send:

· Application form

· Documents:

o Latest annual report

o Latest financial report (independently examined or audited accounts only for charities with an income over £10,000)

o Insurance certificate

o Equal Opportunity: Policy (Policies) addressing the Sex Discrimination Act, 1975, Race Relations Act, 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995

o Health and Safety Policy

o Constitution or governing document

o Child Protection Policy (only if available)

o Business plan (if applicable)

2.5

Applicants for very large grants (above £10,000) are asked to send:

· Application form

· Documents:

o Latest annual report

o Latest financial report (independently examined or audited accounts only for charities with an income over £10,000)

o Insurance certificate

o Equal Opportunity: Policy (Policies) addressing the Sex Discrimination Act, 1975, Race Relations Act, 1976, the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995

o Health and Safety Policy

o Constitution or governing document

o Child Protection Policy

o Business plan (if applicable)

3

Monitoring and reporting

3.1

All grant recipients are asked to send grant reports. Grants above £2,000 legally require a written report to be sent within 12 months. Grants above £5,000 are monitored via a Grant Agreement.