Headlines: November 5th, 2010

The Community Development Foundation will cease to be a quango on 31 March 2011 but it will re-emerge as a charity on 1 April. It will continue its work in administering grant funding.

The Foundation was successful in a Cabinet Office led competitive bid process which sought to identify a small selection of organisations that specialise in grant fund administration. The other successful bidders are the Big Lottery Fund, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Social Investment Business, Tribal Education and V (youth volunteering).

All the successful bidders for framework contracts were able to demonstrate a focus on local delivery of programmes and show how they are at the heart of the Big Society agenda.

Under the new framework agreements, all the organizations will have the opportunity to bid for work with seven government departments on a mix of programmes yet to be announced. The work will be put out to tender amongst the group.

Alison Seabrooke, Chief Executive of the Foundation said ‘I am thrilled that CDF has been given the opportunity to continue to work with government on community led programmes. The spending review announcements were very sobering but I’m confident that CDF will make the most of the opportunity this gives us. We already work with over 18,000 local community groups and 100 national and regional organisations, reaching deep into some of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the country. We are committed to ensuring that every penny put into communities demonstrates real return for both those living in them and for taxpayers.’