Posted on 10th February 2012
Government grants awarded to scale up successful projects
Over £9m has been awarded to social action projects in England in the first tranche of funding from the Cabinet Office’s Social Action Fund. Minister for civil society Nick Hurd said: “The Social Action Fund exists to scale up projects that have proven their ability to inspire people and get them involved. These matched investments will create opportunities for many more people to make a difference to the things they care about.”
Sixteen projects in England are to receive grants ranging from £100,000 to £2m in the programme overseen by Social Investment Business. Its chief executive Jonathan Jenkins says: "The energy and vision of applicants has been impressive and we are pleased to manage a Fund that finances ambitious, life-changing social action projects which will really make a difference and bring people together to improve the quality of life in their communities.”
The next round of grants will be awarded to projects that encourage people to give more time or money.
Lloyds supports social entrepreneurs
Lloyds Banking Group is to support 500 social entrepreneurs over the next five years as they start up and grow social and community enterprises. It is investing in the School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) and awarding grants of between £4,000 and £25,000 to students.
Evaluation of previous SSE programmes by New Philanthropy Capital shows that the programme could ultimately benefit over 800,000 people and generate up to 2,500 jobs with a value of £11m.
Lloyds Banking Group community and sustainable business director Paul Turner said: "This programme will leave a powerful legacy in communities across the UK. SSE's track record made them a partner of choice and we are incredibly proud to be able to support them in this way."
Funders unite to combat tropical diseases
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, 13 pharmaceutical companies, the UK, US and UAE governments, the World Bank and other global health organisations announced a new, coordinated push to accelerate progress toward eliminating or controlling 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by the end of the decade.
They will be investing more than US$785m (£495m) to support research and development, drug distribution and implementation programmes.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates said: “We have joined together to increase the impact of our investments and build on the tremendous progress made to date.” He added: “This innovative approach must serve as a model for solving other global development challenges and will help millions of people build self-sufficiency and overcome the need for aid.”
The funding will help to eradicate Guinea worm disease and expedite progress toward the 2020 goals of elimination for lymphatic filariasis, blinding trachoma, sleeping sickness and leprosy, and control of soil-transmitted helminthes, schistosomiasis, river blindness, Chagas disease and visceral leishmaniasis.
GlaxoSmithKline chief executive Sir Andrew Witty said: “Many companies and organisations have worked for decades to fight these horrific diseases. But no one company or organisation can do it alone. Today, we pledge to work hand-in-hand to revolutionise the way we fight these diseases now and in the future.”
