The Coalfields Regeneration Trust
85. The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was set up
following the Coalfields Task Force Report which recommended that
Government invest in a "ringfenced fund to support coalfields
regeneration."[93]
The trust was launched in 1999 primarily as a grant-making body
to support coalfield communities. With funding from the ODPM it
has invested about £69m in mainly grass roots projects managed
by local communities.
86. The Trust has been widely welcomed as providing
support for voluntary and community based projects. Its impact
is being constrained because of its short term funding arrangements.
The Trust receives funding commitments on a three yearly basis
with no guarantee of continuation at the end of each three years.
The Trust's director Janet Bibby told us:
"the Trust, is funded only in three-year
tranches, therefore it is very difficult to build in long-term
sustainability for groups' funding." [94]
South Derbyshire District Council also pointed out
that
"because of its short lifespan, the trust
has struggled to tackle some long term regeneration issues. What
is required is a long term policy to ensure continuity of funding,
including for project exit funding."[95]
The regeneration minister Lord Rooker pointed out
that funding had been increased beyond what was initially envisaged,
but he could not guarantee that its funding would be put on a
long term basis.[96]
87. The Trust has developed innovative ways of working
with local communities in developing funding bids for projects
which have been welcomed by local authorities and local communities.
The Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation noted:
"The initiative of the Deputy Prime Minister
in establishing the Coalfields Regeneration Trust has been most
welcome, particularly through its Small Grants Programme, which
has done an enormous amount to build the confidence of local people
through the initiation or development of small voluntary based
activities." [97]
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust has made an
important contribution by investing in community regeneration
and building up the confidence of local communities. The uncertainties
of its funding from central Government has limited its impact
which should now be addressed. The Committee accepts that any
long term commitment should be subject to regular review to ensure
that the funds are still required. The Government should guarantee
funding for at least ten years, subject to an interim review after
five years.
Availability of long term funding
88. Many organisations are dependent on short
term grants from funders which are themselves short term such
as the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and SRB. There is a strong
preference from those funders to take on short term innovative
projects rather than the basic running costs. The CHUB Bilsthorpe
Centre said:
There seems to be a great deal of money available
for new and innovative projects but not for the core funding/continuance
funding of established organisations, however successful they
may be. When funding is secured, it is usually for a relatively
short period of time (2-3 years maximum, often much less) and
is accompanied in many cases by a disproportionate amount of paperwork
with regard to financial management and monitoring.[98]
The Government needs to review the availability
of long term core revenue funding for local community organisations
that can then develop innovative projects and prepare bids for
grants from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Lottery funds.
84 Making the Difference A New start for England's
Coalfield Communities, Coalfields Task Force Report, June 1998
p8 para1.6 Back
85
CTF Report para 6.34-6.38 Back
86
COA 58 Back
87
COA 15 Back
88
Fair distribution of Lottery funding to coalfields and other areas,
DCMS November 2001, pages 31 & 32 Back
89
COA 32 Back
90
COA 58 Back
91
COA 20 Back
92
COA 03 Back
93
Making the Difference A New start for England's Coalfield Communities,
Coalfields Task Force Report, June 1998, p52 Back
94
Q103 Back
95
COA 21 Back
96
Q238 Back
97
COA 35 Back
98
COA 04 Back
