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to - all organisations at Annex A
Rhydycar Merthyr Tydfil
CF48 1UZ
Eich cyf / Your ref: Ein cyf / Our ref :
Dyddiad / Date: 22 August 2008
Dear Colleague WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT CIRCULAR: WAGC 26/2008 SOCIAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAMME: PROJECT FUNDING 2009-2010 ROUND Background 1. “Better Homes for People in Wales: A National Housing Strategy for
Wales” contains the Assembly Government’s vision for social housing. We are committed to ensuring that good quality social housing is readily available for those who need it. By 2012 all of Wales’ social housing should reach high quality standards both in terms of condition and management.
2. The Social Housing Management Grant Programme is designed to help
achieve high standards of housing management. The Programme supports projects: • to pilot innovative housing management policies and schemes; • to develop housing management good practice; and • to help the implementation of new housing management policies.
3. We use the following powers to make grants under the Programme:
• Section 16 of the Housing and Planning Act 1986 (which inserts S429A into the Housing Act 1985, as amended by the Government of Wales Act 1998) will be used to give financial assistance to persons:
o seeking to facilitate or encourage improvements in, or providing services in connection with, the management of public sector housing;
Ffon / Tel: 01685 729211
Ffacs / Fax: 01685 729548
E-bost / E-mail:[email protected]
o providing educational or training courses in housing management.
• Section 87 of the Housing Associations Act 1985 which has been
substituted by Section 183 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 (and amended by Section 55(1) of the Housing Act 1996, and the Government of Wales Act 1998) will be used to make grants to registered social landlords (RSLs) and other voluntary organisations towards expenses incurred in encouraging and giving advice on the formation and running of RSLs.
• Section 126 of the Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act
1996 will be used to give financial assistance to persons engaged in activities which contribute to the regeneration or development of an area by improving health services for local people
4. These powers have been transferred to the Assembly by the National
Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Function) Order 1999. Current Programme 5. Since April 2002 more than 200 projects have been funded under the
Social Housing Management Grant Programme, spread over the following areas:
• Letting and Marketing Social Housing; • Best Value; • Promoting Tenant Participation and Training in General Needs and
Supported Housing; • Developing Local Housing Strategies; • Developing Council Housing Stock Business Plans; • Examining and Evaluating Alternative Models of Social Housing
Management; • Housing Advice and Information for People with Disabilities; • Housing and Health; • Housing Management and Anti-Social Behaviour; • Helping Young People to Access and Sustain Housing; and • “New Horizons” – Innovation in Social Housing Management. • Helping Older People Live Independently in their Own Homes and
Other Housing Activities Relating to Improving Health. • Access to Housing • Sustaining Tenancies • Developing Quality Housing Management Services • Regional and Cross Cutting Working • Access to Housing and Joined up Working • Mainstreaming Housing Management Good Practice; Training, Support
and Dissemination • Making the Connections in Housing Management
2009-2010 Programme. 6. Projects under the following themes will be considered for funding.
• Affordable Housing Enablers • Citizen Centred Services • Regeneration through helping to raise economic activity levels • Meeting the needs of an ageing population
Local Strategies and Partnership Working 7. It is important that projects are framed within the local and/or regional
context. Applications need to demonstrate how they fit in with the Local Housing Strategy and other strategic plans in the area covered. They should explain how the project fits with relevant levels, such as regional, local authority and community levels. Other policies, such as the Programme for Improvement/Best Value and Communities First, should also be considered in the preparation of applications.
8. Project applications will be assessed more favourably where they are
partnership-based and make good use of the resources and expertise of organisations sharing a common purpose.
Community Involvement 9. Wherever possible, the project “target group” should be involved at all
stages from producing proposals, through implementation to final evaluation. In most cases this will involve existing tenants and residents groups and federations. In other cases it might mean engaging community organisations or key tenants and residents. Best practice on consulting and involving tenants will be set out in local Tenant Participation Compacts.
Preparing Applications 10. In order to save applicants from committing significant amounts of time
and effort to develop what may amount to an unsuccessful bid, applicants are asked to submit an initial expression of interest. All successful expressions of interest will then be invited to make a formal bid. However, applicants should be clear that even if they are invited to make a bid, this will not guarantee that proposals will be funded. Final decisions on which projects to fund under the Programme can only be taken once all applications have been received and fully assessed against the criteria for funding, given an overall rating and prioritised against available levels of funding.
Project Criteria 11. The general criteria that all proposals will have to meet are set out at
Annex B. For some themes there are additional criteria. These can be found in Annex C.
Distribution of Funding 12. We have not earmarked specific amounts of funding for themes, priority
areas or types of anticipated projects. The distribution of funding will depend upon the number of bids received and their scope, quality and cost.
Level of Grant Funding for Individual Projects 13. For local authorities and registered social landlords:
• grant allocations will cover a maximum of 50% of project costs; and • applicants’ basic running costs (e.g. core staff costs) should not be
included in their 50% contribution towards the project. 14. For all other organisations, the amount of grant that we contribute towards
the overall costs of any one project, will depend upon:
• the policy that the project relates to; and • the nature and financial position of the organisation.
15. Contributions In Kind cannot be accepted. Dissemination of Project Findings 16. It is important that the lessons and good practice that emerge from
projects is widely disseminated and influences future social housing management policy and practice in Wales both nationally and locally. While the dissemination of information and outputs from Social Housing Management Grant projects is improving, too many organisations are still failing to send end-of-project reports to the Assembly on time, and often are failing to send reports at all. It is important that these reports are submitted on time for all projects.
How to Apply for Funding 17. Completed application forms should reach Carl Spiller, Housing
Directorate by no later than 5.00 pm, Friday 17 October 2008.
LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. 18. A step-by-step guide on how to apply for funding is at Annex D. This also
includes a copy of the Application Form. 19. An electronic version of the application form can be obtained by contacting
Carl Spiller (contact details below). Wherever possible we would like organisations to submit their application form electronically to the E-mail address below. However, a hard copy of Section 7 with original, not photocopied, signature(s) must be submitted.
Enquiries 20. Any general queries should be directed to: Carl Spiller on 01685 729211 e-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Yours sincerely
PAUL WEBB HOUSING STRATEGY AND SERVICES UNIT HOUSING DIRECTORATE
WAGC 26/2008
Annex A SOCIAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAMME 2009-2010 DISTRIBUTION LIST All Local Authorities in Wales (Chair of Housing, Chief Executive, and Director of Housing) Welsh Local Government Association All developing Registered Social Landlords in Wales Abbeyfield Society, North and South Wales Accredited Support Providers in Wales Cymdeithas Caer Las Cyf Welsh Federation of Housing Associations Age Concern Cymru All Wales Ethnic Minority Association Black Association of Women Step Out Black Voluntary Sector Network Care & Repair Cymru Chartered Institute of Housing in Wales Churches Coalition Commission for Racial Equality Disability Rights Commission Disability Wales Equal Opportunities Commission Help The Aged Mediation Wales National Tenants Resource Centre North Wales Race Equality Network Race Equality First Shelter Cymru South East Wales Racial Equality Council Swansea Bay Race Equality Council Tai Pawb Tenant Participation Advisory Service (Cymru) Valleys Race Equality Council Wales Council for Voluntary Action Welsh Asian Council Welsh Refugee Council Welsh Tenants Federation Welsh Women’s Aid Cardiff Business School Centre for Housing Management & Development, University of Cardiff North East Wales Institute University of Glamorgan University of Wales, Aberystwyth University of Wales Institute of Cardiff University of Wales, Swansea All Wales Chief Housing Officers Group All Chief Constables in Wales SYNIAD HACAS Chapman Hendy PEP Ms Tamsin Stirling Ms Monica Keeble Mr Simon Inkson
WAGC26/20087
Annex B
SOCIAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAMME 2009- 2010 GENERAL PROJECT CRITERIA
Powers and Aims 1. For a proposal to be funded it must be:
• be within the powers of the Welsh Assembly Government. The legal basis of the Social Housing Management Grant Programme is set out in the “invitation to bid” letter (Circular); and
• be consistent with the applicant’s powers and aims. Outcomes 2. The intended outcomes, impacts or effects of the project must be stated and clear. 3. The proposal must explain how it will produce a model of good housing management practice, pilot an innovative housing management proposal, or help the implementation of a new housing management policy. Fit with other strategies 4. It is important that projects are framed within the local and/or regional context. Applications need to demonstrate how they fit in with the Local Housing Strategy and other strategic plans in the area covered, and how they operate at regional, local authority and community levels. Other policies, such as the Programme for Improvement/Best Value and Communities First, should also be considered in the preparation of applications. Applications will not be considered if the relevant local strategy plans have not been provided or if the proposal is not clearly consistent with the appropriate strategy Partnerships and joint funding 5. There are many organisations and people who can contribute to the development of new initiatives and good practice in Welsh social housing. This is why the Assembly Government particularly wants to support projects that involve:
• formal partnerships; • joint-funding; • bringing in complementary funding from different sources.
Consultation 6. Where external consultation has taken place to inform the proposal, the applicant should provide brief details of the consultees and the outcomes of the consultation.
WAGC26/20087
Community involvement 7. Wherever possible, the “target group” should be involved at all stages from producing proposals, through implementation to final evaluation. In most cases this will involve existing tenants and residents groups and federations. In other cases it might mean engaging community organisations or key tenants and residents. The application should provide details of “target group” involvement. Specific outputs, targets and milestones to measure progress 8. The projects will normally result in some form of specific outputs which must be clearly identified in the application. Usually they will be concrete and tangible, such as a report, publication or event. However, for certain projects some use of qualitative measures might be appropriate. 9. All applications must identify targets and milestones by which the applicant can measure progress and demonstrate it to the Assembly Government. All applications should also include a timetable which explains how the outputs will be reached in an effective and efficient manner. Timescales 10. Projects must be for a specified period. The Assembly Government cannot give open-ended funding commitments, so all projects must have an established timetable. Statement of cost 11. The proposal must include a budget that covers:
• all anticipated expenditure on the project; • all proposed sources of funding, including “public”, “non-public” and
“contributions in kind”; and • all projected income.
Level of grant funding for individual projects 12. For local authorities and registered social landlords:
• grant allocations will cover a maximum of 50% of project costs; and • applicants’ basic running costs (e.g. core staff costs) should not be included in
their 50% contribution towards the project. 13. For all other organisations, the amount of grant that we contribute towards the overall costs of any one project, will depend upon:
• the policy that the project relates to; and • the nature and financial position of the organisation.
Value for money
WAGC26/20087
14. All applications must demonstrate that outcomes will be achieved cost-effectively (in terms of both quality and cost). This might be done, for example, by referring to the costs of other comparable projects. The project would not take place without grant support 15. Applicants must always show that Social Housing Management Grant funding is necessary for the project to take place at all, or to an appropriate quality and standard. This should include an explanation of what other income sources have been considered to fund the project. The Social Housing Management Grant Programme exists to help make things happen that would not do so otherwise. Avoiding duplication 16. Where appropriate, the proposal should demonstrate that it does not duplicate work already done, either under the Social Housing Management Grant Programme to date or through other programmes. Applicants are therefore advised to discuss their proposal with the appropriate person at the Welsh Assembly Government before submitting their applications (see contact names in Annex B). Disseminating findings 17. So that other people and organisations can benefit from the project, applicants should explain how they would disseminate the findings of the project, both with their own organisation and to others across Wales. Copies of documents produced through project funding (such as end-of-project reports and guidance notes) should be bilingual, and should be submitted to the Housing Directorate. Equality of opportunity 18. Applicants will be expected to have equal opportunities policies which can be checked by the Assembly Government on request. Equal opportunity practice must be implemented in all projects. Clear and complete applications 19. Poorly written or incomplete applications are unlikely to receive funding. Applicants should aim to submit forms that provide the relevant information in a concise and clear style.
WAGC 26/2008
Annex C
Social Housing Management Grant Programme 2009-2010 The Social Housing Management Grant Programme for 2009-2010 focuses on collaborative working and the promotion of good practice and innovation. Applications are invited under the themes of:
Affordable Housing Enablers Citizen Centred Services Regeneration through helping to raise economic activity levels Meeting the needs of an ageing population
Projects that will be favoured Apart from in relation to the Affordable Housing Enablers theme, applications for funding should demonstrate how they will produce a model of good housing management practice, pilot an innovative housing management proposal, or help the implementation of a new housing management policy. Preference will be given to projects which demonstrate a wider approach to regionalism (ie operate in more than a single local authority area) and demonstrate partnership working. Applications which will not be considered Applications which are late, incomplete, of poor quality and/or which do not meet the grant criteria or other relevant Assembly procedures will not be funded. Applications that are considered to form part of the day-to-day Housing Management function of the organisation will not be accepted. Equality Project proposals must show how they will address issues around service delivery to people within one of the six equality strands (gender, disability, race, age, GLB and religious belief), and be assessed by how well they do this. Affordable Housing Enablers The Welsh Assembly Government believes that everyone has the right to an affordable home whether as owner, part owner or tenant. A stock of good quality homes is the foundation of thriving local communities in all corners of Wales. The shortage of affordable housing is one of the greatest challenges facing many communities in Wales. In One Wales the Assembly Government has made a commitment to introduce new tools and policy interventions to ensure that affordable housing is available even in areas of the most severe housing pressure.
WAGC 26/2008
Local authorities, together with Registered Social Landlords and house builders are important partners in the delivery of affordable housing and as a result local authorities will have the statutory duty to prepare a delivery plan for affordable housing, consistent with their own housing strategy. The main elements of the Affordable Housing Delivery Plan’s (AHDPs) would be:
• To assess the need for affordable housing; • To set a target for affordable housing; • To secure affordable housing; and • To monitor and evaluate the delivery of the affordable housing.
Bids are therefore welcomed from local authority partnerships to fund affordable housing enablers who will assist in the drafting and implementation of the Affordable Housing Delivery Plans. They would also be responsible for a range of tasks across more than one local authority area such as ensuring robust Affordable Housing Planning policies are in place; bringing forward sites for affordable housing and negotiation S106 planning agreements with the private sector as appropriate. Project time scales Under this theme grants are available for projects up to two years in duration. Assembly Government Contact If you have an idea about a potential project under this theme you should contact Judith Askew on 01685 729627 or e-mail [email protected] Citizen Centred Services Improving public services is seen as of fundamental importance by the Welsh Assembly Government as evidenced by the publication of Making the Connections – Delivering Beyond Boundaries: transforming public services in Wales in 2006. The programme will impact on all parts of the public service in Wales, but the Assembly feels that engaging and involving tenants in the decision making and delivery of services is invaluable in ensuring that the very best levels of customer service can be attained and as such, Beyond Boundaries proposals include the voluntary and community sector developing an enhanced role as citizen’s advocates. Bids are therefore invited for projects which help to support the implementation of innovative citizen-centred, tenant-led approaches that will help to:
develop and enhance quality assurance systems; increase access to affordable housing; tackle anti-social behavioural issues; and improve access to appropriate home improvement services.
Project time scales
WAGC 26/2008
Under this theme grants are available for projects up to three years in duration Assembly Government Contact If you have an idea about a potential project under this theme you should contact Geoff Marlow on 01685 729200 or e-mail [email protected] Regeneration through helping to raise economic activity levels An employment rate of 80% is a long-term aim set out in One Wales. Within the context of a Welsh economy containing approximately 1.25 million people in employment (corresponding to an employment rate at around 72%), this is an extremely challenging objective and would an estimated additional 150,000 people needed to join the Welsh economy. Alongside this target, the UK Government has also set itself an 80% employment rate target and have introduced the Welfare Reform Act (2007) which will reform the incapacity benefit arrangements by introducing a new Employment Support Allowance and a new Personal Capability Assessment to access an individual’s entitlement and the possible supported needed to get an individual back into employment. These reforms are a key driver for Wales, however the skills and employment strategy ‘Skills That Work for Wales’ outlines the Assembly’s commitment to go further by creating an integrated skills and employment system in Wales, driven by joint planning arrangements with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and its delivery agents. The Housing sector has the capability of making a significant impact in this area as tenants of social housing are not only more likely to be economically inactive, but have some of the most acute basic skills problems in Wales with inactivity concentrated on selected social-economic groups and geographical areas, creating divisions within the Welsh economy. The scale of the problem can be seen by the fact that despite the relative stability of economic inactivity rates over the period, research has found that the number of workless households has quadrupled in the last thirty years, while participation rates have altered dramatically, creating a polarisation between dual-worker and work-less households which suggest there are cross-generational attitudinal issues to work and educational achievement that need to be overcome. We will therefore consider bids for projects which look to address these problems, strengthen and build partnerships with organisations who deliver employment programmes and in particular:
• that facilitate the participation of tenants in activities that help to overcome barriers to employment such as improving low educational attainment, skills and employability allied to DWP/Jobcentre Plus welfare-to-work provision;
• that provide services to tenants which helps remove barriers to employment such as childcare and other care, affordable and accessible transport and additional support for people with disabilities, physical health and mental health barriers to employment;
WAGC 26/2008
• that provide employment, self-employment, support and advice, work experience, volunteering, job brokerage and other intermediate opportunities to inactive tenants; and
• that embed activity aimed at tackling economic inactivity into wider local economic and community development projects.
Project time scales Under this theme grants are available for projects up to three years in duration Assembly Government Contact If you have an idea about a potential project under this theme you should contact John Hyde on 01685 729205 or e-mail [email protected] Meeting the needs of an ageing population Over the past forty years there has been a 30% increase in the number of people over the age of 60 in Wales and the number of people over 85 has increased fourfold – in fact, the 2001 census revealed that for the first time there were more people aged over 60, than under 16 in the population. By 2011 it is expected that 26% of the total population will be aged 60 or over with it moving up to 31% by 2021, while the population aged between 10 and 29 is expected to fall. The Welsh Assembly Government has demonstrated its commitment to addressing the needs of an ageing population with the introduction in 2003 of the ‘Strategy for Older People in Wales’, which received international recognition. The second phase of the strategy, published in 2008, sets out the key objectives for the next five years with local authorities at the heart if delivery. To encourage increased engagement, the Welsh Assembly Government is inviting proposals for funding through the Social Housing Management Grant programme that will support good practice in engaging local authorities, voluntary organisations, health, social care and other services with older people in relation to:
health promotion and schemes that support independent living such as access to home improvements/maintenance and assistive technology;
valuing older people, promoting social inclusion and schemes that promote safety in the home and community; and
improving the economic status of older people, including support for carers and improving volunteering activities.
Project time scales Under this theme grants are available for projects up to three years in duration Assembly Government Contact If you have an idea about a potential project under this theme you should contact Simon Prothero on 01685 729209 or e-mail [email protected]
WAGC 26/2008
Annex D
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
GRANT AID UNDER
SOCIAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAMME
GUIDANCE ON COMPLETION OF STAGE ONE APPLICATION FOR PROJECT FUNDING
2009- 2010
WAGC /2008
GENERAL
You should complete all parts of the application form in a concise and clear style. If you have any general queries you are welcome to contact Carl Spiller on 01685 729211 or e-mail [email protected] Grants are available for projects of up to three years in duration. Completed application forms should be sent to Carl Spiller in the Housing Directorate to arrive no later than Friday 17 October 2008, LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
SECTION
1 – 2
Self-explanatory.
3 – 5
Please give the name of the person best equipped to deal with enquiries about the project. If they have a direct telephone number and an e-mail address include these as well.
6.
Partners – Give the name and status of any partner organisations involved in this project. What aspects of the project will each partner organisation be responsible for? You should also describe what arrangements are in place to monitor each organisation’s progress. Which of the organisations involved in the running of the project will have overall responsibility for it?
7.
Main theme to which the project relates - Please state the main theme that your project falls under. The main themes of this year’s Social Housing Management Grant Programme can be found at
WAGC /2008
Annex B to the “invitation to bid” letter.
8.
Project name – Please give your project a name that clearly identifies its subject matter.
9.
Geographical area of operation – Please state which local authority areas the project will operate in.
10.
Duration of project – Please state how many years you intend the project to run for.
11.
Summary of the project and its intended outcomes – This box is for you to provide a brief description of your project and what you hope to achieve. It should be all embracing and give your project a sense of purpose and direction.
12.
Who will be the end beneficiaries – Please use this box to indicate who will benefit should your project be funded.
13.
Project Expenditure – Please show the estimated cost of the project (including VAT if it is payable), even if you only bid for a proportion of the total costs.
14.
Project Funding - In this table you should set out the other proposed sources of funding for your project: • Public Funding – this would include local authority
funding, central government funding and any other sources of public funding.
• Non–Public Funding – including private sector,
voluntary sector, National Lottery and any other sources of private funding.
• Income - give details of any income the project
may generate. Note: - For Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords: • grant allocations will cover a maximum of 50% of
project costs; and
WAGC /2008
• applicants’ basic running costs (e.g. core staff costs) should not be included in their 50% contribution towards the project.
For all other organisations, the amount of grant that we contribute towards the overall costs of any one project, will depend upon: • the policy that the project relates to; and the nature and financial position of the organisation.
15.
SHMG funding sought – Please indicate the amounts of grant being sought.
SHMG STAGE ONE APPLICATION WAGC 26/2008
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT
GRANT AID UNDER
SOCIAL HOUSING MANAGEMENT GRANT PROGRAMME
STAGE ONE APPLICATION FOR PROJECT FUNDING
2009-2010
1. Name of organisation applying for grant:
2. Correspondence address:
3. Person to contact about this project:
4. Telephone number:
5. E-mail address:
Applicant Name: Date:
SHMG STAGE ONE APPLICATION WAGC 26/2008
6. Proposed partners: please provide details of any partners involved in the project and how the partnership will work.
7. Main SHMG theme to which the project relates:
8. Project name:
9. Geographical area of operation:
10. Duration of project:
11. Summary of the project?
12. How will the project work and who will be the end beneficiaries?
Applicant Name: Date:
SHMG STAGE ONE APPLICATION WAGC 26/2008
13. Estimated project expenditure (including VAT): Please Note. Only additional staff hours (added to existing contracts for
the purpose of this project) or project specific posts will be funded. The Assembly Government may request proof of additional staff hours.
Expenditure Amount Total Estimate
2009 -2010
Estimate2010-2011
Estimate 2011-2012
£
Staff Costs: Non-Staff Costs: Other Project Costs: Central Charges: Total Expenditure
14. Estimated non-SHMG project funding:
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 Sought Confirmed Sought Confirmed Sought Confirmed Public Funding
Non-public Funding
15. SHMG funding sought:
2009/10 2010/11 2011/12
Please return completed application form and supporting documents to:
Carl Spiller Housing Directorate Welsh Assembly Government Rhydycar Merthyr Tydfil CF48 1UZ
An electronic version of this form can be obtained from the e-mail address below. ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 17:00 FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER 2008 LATE BIDS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. For general enquiries: e-mail: [email protected]
Applicant Name: Date:
