Welsh Government | £4m Boost will Extend Third Sector Involvement in Key Project

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£4m Boost will Extend Third Sector Involvement in Key Project

Funding for a key public services project is being increased by £4million so that it can expand to include the third sector, Minister for Local Government and Communities, Carl Sargeant announced.

Tuesday 07 February 2012

The additional European funding will enable WCVA and the local county voluntary councils to strengthen the third sector’s involvement in West Wales and the Valleys with Local Service Boards, Communities First Partnerships and Welsh Local Government Association. The move will help continue the drive to improve the delivery of public services to people.

A total of £17 million will now be available via the project, which is backed by the Welsh Government and over £10 million from the European Social Fund (ESF).

Funding is already being used for projects that get the input of local people into design and delivery of the services they receive. These include initiatives that, through effective collaboration, improve services to families, tackle carbon emissions and help reduce poverty.

Minister for Local Government and Communities Carl Sargeant said:

"I welcome the financial boost for this project. It means that the third sector will be able to work with us even more closely to deliver effective and efficient public services that meet the needs of the people of Wales, as set out in our Programme for Government.

"There are 22 projects already delivering with and for the people of Wales and by strengthening and focusing the involvement of the third sector I’m sure that we can take even bigger strides."

Graham Benfield, Chief Executive of WCVA, added:

"The third sector has an important role in designing and helping to deliver services that are close to people and communities. This additional funding will help more organisations to get involved in the work of Local Service Boards, and to work in partnership with them to improve public services."