Current Activities

The funding environment for voluntary and community organisation is becoming increasingly competitive. There is also a progressive move away from grants towards contracts. Advice and training on how to secure funding is more important than ever.

The VoluntaryWorks consortium is funded by Capacitybuilders and the Big Lottery Fund to deliver a a number of joint projects these offer three main kinds of support:

Training workshops and funder briefings at locations across Bedfordshire

One-to-one advice from our experienced advisers

Information and resources, including updates and funding alerts through newsletters, by email and on the VoluntaryWorks website.

To download our leaflet click here.

Representation and Impact of Local Government Reorganisation
Two-tier local government in Bedfordshire has been reorganised into two unitary authorities covering Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire. Over two years, while planning and transformation takes place, the project will enable the Third Sector to become involved within the whole process of local government reorganisation and modernisation. It will establish new Third Sector fora; contribute to the formulation of new strategies, policy and service delivery plans; and involve the sector in a range of new Partnerships.

Procurement Project
The project provides training and support to enable local voluntary and community organisation to compete for public service contracts. The project would also encourage consortia working where appropriate. Further information on this project can be found in Delivery Plan 6.

General Advice Information and Development Project
The project provides generalist advice, information and development services to frontline voluntary and community organisations in order to help them become better equipped to seek funding and stronger service providers for their beneficiaries. Further information on this project, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund, can be found in our BASIS II Business Plan.

To read about our future projects click here.
To read about our past projects click here.