In October 2020, we released the interim findings from our Coordination in place project, which aims to investigate and share learning around place-based local action during the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the past six months, we have been working closely with local community coordinators in Buckinghamshire, Coventry and Sutton to learn how ways of working and attitudes to collaboration have shifted during the crisis.

We have heard about increased levels of trust and collaboration between organisations and sectors in these three areas, but these positive developments may be under threat as the crisis continues to reduce work-capacity and resources. Our coordinators have shared with us their proposed next steps and asks for charities, funders and commissioners, in the hope that these will help maintain and improve collaboration during 2021.

Across all three areas, we have seen some common themes emerge in regard to funders. VCSE leaders are keen to see an increase in core funding, with fewer short-term spending deadlines, to allow for more strategic, long-term planning. Funders should also consider increasing opportunities for local organisations that are embedded in their communities—larger organisations are less likely to understand local needs or hold the local relationships necessary to deliver effective solutions.

In terms of funding processes, charities would like to see the improved coordination between funders continue, in order to reduce duplication and to ensure the most strategic decisions are made about who or what to fund. They would also like to see more feedback given on unsuccessful funding bids: funding applications can be time-intensive and it can be difficult for smaller organisations to learn without feedback. Finally, we’ve learnt that funders could be more flexible in allowing charities to decide the best methods for achieving outcomes. Local charities will know what approaches work best for their particular communities.

Read the full article about place-based philanthropy by  Abigail Rose at NPC.