January 15, 2008
Lottery creating new Strategic Board
There is unease in Scotland`s Community Sector that our Lottery is to create a new `overview` body to decide which national third sector intermediaries will receive funding. This new Board, with representation from Scottish Government, jeopardises BIG`s independence.
Statement from Dharmendra Kanani (CEO BIG Lottery) re Strategic Partnership Board
Dynamic Inclusive Communities
I confirmed that the Scotland Committee agreed a timescale and process for considering the responsive strand of this funding which would mean Outline Proposal Forms would have to be submitted by 31st January 2008. This is likely to result in decisions being made in this area in October. The Scotland Committee is keen to have an overview of funding in this area about how we can add real value to National Voluntary Sector Intermediaries and to reflect how this funding has synergy with the supporting voluntary action solicitation from SCVO. It is this desire to have a strategic overview which has led to this new timescale and process. Details of this are on our website. It should be noted that we recognise the impact of this new timescale on organisations and their plans and as a result the Scotland Committee will take a view on this timescale early in the New Year when we have a better idea of the number and quality of bids submitted to us.
Strategic Partnership Board
There appears to be confusion about the role and purpose of the Strategic Partnership Board (SPB). The establishment of an SPB is a result of the Scotland Committee’s consideration of and decision on SCVO’s Supporting Voluntary Action (SVA) solicited bid. The Committee is keen to ensure that there is a strategic overview of SVA to ensure that there is a wide cross-sectoral engagement in and delivery of this significant change agenda for the voluntary sector in Scotland. BIG is conscious of the fact that its investment needs to respond, be aligned to and form part of a wider set of institutional structures and funding across Scotland. The Chair of the SPB would be independent and the Board would be made up of a wide cross section of stakeholders and interests. Clearly, the interests and the needs of social enterprise will form part of the consideration of the board and its composition.