The Transition Fund and the "Open Letter"!

ACEVO is to provide expertise to help shape the new £100m Transition Fund. ACEVO have been announced as a partner of the Big Lottery Fund in the delivery of the Office for Civil Society's new Transition Fund. The new £100m Fund, announced by the Chancellor in the Comprehensive Spending Review, has been established to support third sector organisations who may be badly effected by public spending cuts and who need to adapt to new public service markets.

ACEVO's expertise will play a key role in supporting the Big Lottery Fund in the shaping of the new Fund.

There was a lot of competition to run the new Fund but we felt there was a synergy between ACEVO and BLF so I was delighted when I got the news in India that our bid had won. And much credit on that goes to Seb Elsworth! So let him get a mention on the Blog;

As the press release said!

"Speaking on today's announcement, Seb Elsworth, Director of Strategy at ACEVO said,

"I'm delighted that ACEVO will be one of the organisations supporting BIG in the delivery of the Transition Fund.

"Using our expertise around the sector's relationship with Government in delivering public services, we will work with BIG so that the fund can help organisations make the transitions they need in order to compete in new markets, and continue to deliver services in the short term."


The Fund is mentioned in the "Open Letter" that Francis Maude and Nick Hurd have written to the sector.

See here

It is right we see policy development in the round and the opportunities, as well as the looming threats posed by severe cuts in support, particularly by local Councils and some Health Authorities.

I also think that OCS are beginning to repair some of the early damage when the Government conspicuously failed to consult or involve the established sector in plans and policy. The new DG at OCS is clearly intending to involve us more widely.

And the emphasis in the letter on service delivery and our growing role as well as a recognition of the barriers we face in commissioning, is excellent.